What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 9%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 6%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenethyl Benzoate
EmollientPolyester-25
Skin ProtectingSilica
AbrasiveTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
MaskingBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 6%, Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Phenethyl Benzoate, Polyester-25, Silica, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin
Zinc Oxide 22%
Cosmetic ColorantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPullulan
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyester-8
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Parfum
MaskingZinc Oxide 22%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Inulin, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Glycolipids, Isoamyl Laurate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyester-8, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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