What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Titanium Dioxide 3%
Cosmetic Colorant
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol 2.25%
UV Filter
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate 1.6%
UV Filter
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide 3%, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol 2.25%, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate 1.6%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientEthyl Palmitate
Emollient
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Isohexadecane, Ethyl Palmitate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Mica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinSilica, 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 SilicaChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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
