What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Trehalose
Humectant
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC15-19 Alkane
SolventPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Octocrylene, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Trehalose, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C15-19 Alkane, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Decyl Glucoside, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hexyldecanol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Parfum, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Menthol
Masking
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Hydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingHelianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate, Zinc Oxide, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Menthol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Menthyl Lactate, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract is is derived from colloidal oatmeal. Besides being a healthy breakfast, oats have many benefits in skincare too.
This ingredient helps sooth, hydrate, and protect the skin. The starches in colloidal oatmeal are able to bind water, keeping the skin hydrated.
The cellulose and fiber in colloidal oatmeal help reduce inflammation. This can also help the skin feel softer.
Colloidal Oatmeal is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect our skin from free-radical damage.
Oatmeal also contains beneficial compounds:
This ingredient is created by mixing grounded oatmeal and a liquid base.
Learn more about Avena Sativa Kernel ExtractAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
