What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower
Skin ConditioningEthyl Ferulate
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantAlumina
AbrasiveGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Phytate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingVanillin
MaskingWater, Zinc Oxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower, Ethyl Ferulate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium PCA, Stearic Acid, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Alumina, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Phytate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum, Triethyl Citrate, Vanillin
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberParfum
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingEctoin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningPiroctone Olamine
PreservativeDiethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSilver Chloride
PreservativeCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Parfum, Potassium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Ectoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Piroctone Olamine, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Silver Chloride, Cellulose Gum, Propylene Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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