What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 4%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 2%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Hexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialSteareth-21
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Ethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%, Homosalate 4%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4%, Octocrylene 2%, Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hexylresorcinol, Steareth-21, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Sclerotium Gum, Parfum, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMyristyl Myristate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Zea Mays Starch, Niacinamide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Myristyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water