What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 10%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Surfactant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientTridecyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
PEG-10
HumectantPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Zinc Oxide 10%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Tridecyl Salicylate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Niacinamide, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Silica, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Maltodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, PEG-10, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Propylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Butylene Glycol, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingPEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyamide-8
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
PPG-17
Skin ConditioningCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
PEG-6
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Paraffinum Liquidum, Hydroxystearic Acid, Triethylhexanoin, PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyamide-8, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Lecithin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, PPG-17, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, BHT, Tocopherol, PEG-6, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Silica, 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.
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 BenzoateCaprylic/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 LecithinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopherol 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
