What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Isododecane
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Avena Sativa Straw Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isododecane, Silica, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 80, Panthenol, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Avena Sativa Straw Extract, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer
Methylparaben
Preservative
Trisodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Alcohol Denat., Distarch Phosphate, Octocrylene, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Dimethicone, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Behenyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer, Methylparaben, Trisodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyisobutene, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pantolactone, 4-Butylresorcinol, Citric Acid, Glucose, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Lactic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Caramel, 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.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSilica, 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
