What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingSucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventMaclura Cochinchinensis Leaf Prenylflavonoids
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Zea Mays Starch, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitan Stearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Allantoin, Propanediol, Maclura Cochinchinensis Leaf Prenylflavonoids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientPEG-10 Glyceryl Stearate
EmulsifyingHomosalate
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterSilica
AbrasiveC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Glyceryl Stearate, Homosalate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Silica, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, BHT, Citric Acid
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 BenzoateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideSilica, 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 SilicaWater. 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