What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPEG-2 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberMagnesium Sulfate
PEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeButylparaben
MaskingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberUbiquinone
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Water, Isohexadecane, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Sorbitan Isostearate, PEG-2 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ozokerite, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Magnesium Sulfate, PEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate, Magnesium Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ubiquinone, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, Disodium EDTA
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate 2%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingEthylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
CleansingSteareth-21
CleansingParfum
MaskingPolyacrylamide
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Methylparaben
PreservativeC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSarcosine
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingEthylparaben
PreservativeButylparaben
MaskingPropylparaben
PreservativeIsobutylparaben
AntimicrobialIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativePotassium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Steareth-2, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Steareth-21, Parfum, Polyacrylamide, Arachidyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sarcosine, Laureth-7, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Potassium Aspartate, Magnesium Aspartate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylparaben is a preservative, is a paraben, and is not reef safe. It can worsen eczema.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateEthylparaben is a preservative, is a paraben, and is not reef safe.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben with antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
This ingredient can be naturally found in plants and insects, but most of it is synthetically manufactured for human use. In cosmetics, it is usually created by reacting para-aminobenzoic acid and propanol (an alcohol).
You can usually find this ingredient in water-based products.
Parabens have come under controversy due to the claim they are hormone disruptors. Studies show conflicting results. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Propylparaben is commonly found in food, medicine, and cosmetics.
Learn more about PropylparabenWater. 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