What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
PEG-9 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Nicotinate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Zinc Oxide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Lauroyl Lysine, PEG-9 Dimethicone, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Squalane, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Menthyl Nicotinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Isostearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Hexylglycerin
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polysorbate 60, Betaine, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Hexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Arginine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl 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
