Simple Skincare Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Day Cream SPF 15 Versus Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer Sensitive Skin SPF 15
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearyl Caprylate
EmollientStearyl Heptanoate
Emollient
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Bisabolol, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Heptanoate, Sucrose Polystearate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6%
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Steareth-21
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Oleth-3 Phosphate
BHT
Antioxidant
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6%, Zinc Oxide, Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-21, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyacrylamide, Stearyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Behenyl Alcohol, DMDM Hydantoin, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone, Laureth-7, Steareth-2, Disodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Oleth-3 Phosphate, BHT, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
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 BHTCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexyl 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 MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopheryl 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 Water
