Shinzu'i Whitessentials Brightening Serum Sunscreen SPF 35 Versus True to Skin Matcha Oat Gentle Cleanser
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This mild gel cleanser is made to cleanse while calming and soothing your skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Geranium Robertianum Extract
AstringentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
HumectantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Parfum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Geranium Robertianum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Algae Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingClitoria Ternatea Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingSarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingActinidia Chinensis Seed
Abrasive
Salicylic Acid 0.01%
Masking
Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Skin Extract
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Water, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract, Triethanolamine, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Capryloyl Glycine, Sarcosine, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Seed, Salicylic Acid 0.01%, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera Skin Extract, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHouttuynia Cordata Extract is more commonly known as Heart Leaf, Fish Mint, or Chameleon plant.
The components found in Heart Leaf give it antioxidant, hydrating, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Heart Leaf is rich in flavonoids such as quercetin, apigenin, and more. It also contains polysaccharides, the most common type of carbs in food.
Flavonoids have been shown to be effective antioxidants. They help neutralize free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are unstable molecules that may damage our skin cells and DNA. The flavonoids in Heart Leaf also help soothe the skin.
Polysaccharides are naturally found in our skin. They play a role in hydrating and repairing the top layer of skin. The polysaccharides in Heart Leaf help moisturize our skin.
Studies show decanoyl acetaldehyde, a component of Heart Leaf oil, is effective at killing bacteria.
The name 'Fish Mint' comes from the herb's natural fishy smell. Is is native to southeast Asia and used throughout the continent for traditional cooking and medicine.
Learn more about Houttuynia Cordata ExtractWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
