What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
EDTA
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, EDTA, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tocopherol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningTrimethyl Pentaphenyl Trisiloxane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Trimethyl Pentaphenyl Trisiloxane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Mica, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tin Oxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77891
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 made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
