What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 22.85%
Cosmetic Colorant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Kaolin
Abrasive
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
Abrasive
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Propylene Carbonate
SolventStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%, Titanium Dioxide 22.85%, Aluminum Hydroxide, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Methicone, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Isostearic Acid, Kaolin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Microcrystalline Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyethylene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Tocopherol
Zinc Oxide 23.8%
Cosmetic Colorant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Methyl Dihydroabietate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Behenyl Behenate
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Canola Oil
Emollient
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantFarnesol
Perfuming
Zinc Oxide 23.8%, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Coco-Caprylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Octyldodecanol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Tocopherol, Jojoba Esters, Behenyl Behenate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Bisabolol, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Canola Oil, CI 77491, CI 77492, Farnesol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 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 BenzoateCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Copernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxIsostearic Acid is a fatty acid and a structural cousin of stearic acid. It is an emulsifier.
The branched structure of this ingredient enhances fluidity and gives it a lighter, less greasy feel compared to other fatty acids. It helps improve texture and consistency because it prevents oil and water phases from separating.
This ingredient is sourced from plant-based oils like soybean or rapeseed.
Clinical studies found no signs of irritation from this ingredient.
Since Isostearic Acid is an 18-carbon fatty acid, it is in the range that Malassezia can feed on. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
You might have seen sources that this ingredient is comedogenic. The original comedogenic testing on rabbit ear actually tested the ester, Isopropyl Isostearate and not Isostearic acid itself. There has been no comedogenic testing done on this ingredient, but it may be worth patch testing if you have acne-prone skin.
Learn more about Isostearic AcidPolyhydroxystearic 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 AcidTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
