What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sea Water
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingBuddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cera Alba
Emollient
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Isomerized Safflower Acid
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dibutyl Adipate, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Titanium Dioxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, Gluconolactone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Sea Water, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Polysorbate 80, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Benzalkonium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cera Alba, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Isomerized Safflower Acid, Kaolin, Maltodextrin, Palmitic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Zinc Sulfate, Ceramide EOP
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 GlycolDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateGlycerin (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.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideWater. 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
