What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearates
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Niacinamide, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Tranexamic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Arbutin, Glutathione, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Glyceryl Stearates, Jojoba Esters, Tromethamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Carbomer, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Phytosphingosine, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Pachyrhizus Erosus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Phytate
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
BHT
Antioxidant
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Silica, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Zinc Oxide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Pachyrhizus Erosus Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, CI 77007, Allantoin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Octyldodecanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Sodium Phytate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, BHT, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethyl Ferulate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Magnesium Chloride, Panthenol, Calcium Gluconate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Yeast Extract, Cyanocobalamin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
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 GlycolEthylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.
Usage levels vary around the world:
Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).
You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.
In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.
Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.
The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
