What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBoron Nitride
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingCeteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Eruca Sativa Leaf
AntioxidantGalactoarabinan
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine PCA
HumectantHoya Lacunosa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-3, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Boron Nitride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Triethyl Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Lauryl Glucoside, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Eruca Sativa Leaf, Galactoarabinan, Ceteareth-12, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine PCA, Hoya Lacunosa Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate 3.5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 4.5%
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide 6.2%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientC30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSucrose Tristearate
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMethylsilanol/Silicate Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 61
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTambourissa Trichophylla Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 3.5%, Octocrylene 4.5%, Titanium Dioxide 6.2%, Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diisopropyl Sebacate, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose Tristearate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Methylsilanol/Silicate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 61, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tambourissa Trichophylla Leaf Extract, Dimethiconol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Mica, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 OctocryleneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum