Simple Skincare Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15 Versus Soap & Glory Urban Legend Double Protection Antioxidant Day Cream Daily SPF 30
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 1.5%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 1.3%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingGlycol Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPotassium Stearate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Stearamide Amp
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 1.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 1.3%, Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Glycol Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Stearamide Amp
Octocrylene 3%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantTribehenin
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDimethiconol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSimethicone
EmollientSphinganine
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBHT
AntioxidantOctocrylene 3%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Tribehenin, Alcohol Denat., Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Bisabolol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Citric Acid, Simethicone, Sphinganine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, T-Butyl Alcohol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, BHT
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTBisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCaprylyl 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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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