What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 2.9%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 2.2%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSorbitol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 2.9%, Octocrylene 2.2%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Bisabolol, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, BHT, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Niacinamide
SmoothingCanola Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPodocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningAframomum Melegueta Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSorbic Acid
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativePolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingWater, Squalane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Niacinamide, Canola Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Aframomum Melegueta Seed Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Olivate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterGlycerin (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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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