What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Isododecane
EmollientPEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
Masking
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Aminoethanesulfinic Acid
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Panthenyl Ethyl Ether
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingDimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTrisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 5%, Trisiloxane, Water, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Silica, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Isododecane, PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dextrin Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trehalose, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Sodium Chloride, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aminoethanesulfinic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Trisodium EDTA, Tocopherol, BHT, Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, CI 77120, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10.7%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 6%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 3.9%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Nylon-12
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Dodecene
MaskingPoloxamer 407
EmulsifyingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10.7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 6%, Benzophenone-3 3.9%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol Denat., Silica, Dicaprylyl Ether, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Nylon-12, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-8 Laurate, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopherol, Isostearyl Alcohol, P-Anisic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dodecene, Poloxamer 407
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
