What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Antioxidant
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Alumina
Abrasive
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyether-1
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Titanium Dioxide, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethiconol, Trisiloxane, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Madecassoside, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Polyether-1, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tranexamic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Butylene Glycol, CI 77492, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Bacillus Lysate
Skin ProtectingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Zinc Oxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C14-22 Alcohols, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bisabolol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Dibutyl Adipate, Madecassoside, Bacillus Lysate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Maltodextrin, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Glucose, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateDibutyl Adipate is a lightweight, oil-soluble ester that acts as an emollient and solvent. It helps products spread more easily and leaves a soft, silky, dry-touch finish without being greasy.
You'll likely see this ingredient in sunscreens because it does a nice job dissolving UV filters and keeping them evenly distributed.
This ingredient has been found to be safe as used in cosmetics, wasn't a skin or eye irritant in clinical patch testing, and wasn't phototoxic.
In a clinical comedogenicity test, this ingredient tested negative so it isn't likely to clog pores.
Typical use levels are about 5-8% for sunscreens + nail products, but can range from 0.005%-8% depending on the product.
Learn more about Dibutyl AdipateGlycerin (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 GlycerinMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Polyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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
