What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide 17%
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCapsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium PCA
HumectantBuddleja Davidii Callus Extract
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPropylene Carbonate
SolventIsostearic Acid
CleansingOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeWater, Zinc Oxide 17%, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Buddleja Davidii Callus Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Isostearic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Salicylate
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterOctocrylene
UV AbsorberHomosalate
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantUndecane
EmollientC8-22 Alkyl Acrylates/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberTridecane
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropyl Alcohol
SolventHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzoic Acid
MaskingSqualane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientWater, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Dibutyl Adipate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Undecane, C8-22 Alkyl Acrylates/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Tridecane, Phenoxyethanol, Propyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Benzoic Acid, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water