What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 8%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 4%
UV Absorber
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Isohexadecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMeadowfoam Estolide
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingLecithin
Emollient
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 4%, Isododecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Meadowfoam Estolide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyester-7, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Jojoba Esters, Mannitol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Silica, Tocopherol
Zinc Oxide 21%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Phytate
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sucrose
Humectant
Spirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingPhaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract
HumectantOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentBisabolol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Glucose
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Zinc Oxide 21%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sclerotium Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sucrose, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract, Oryza Sativa Starch, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isostearic Acid, Glucose, Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinTocopherol 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
