What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 20%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 20%, Water, Diisopropyl Adipate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Squalane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-15
UV Filter
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPPG-2-Deceth-30
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Water, Octocrylene, Homosalate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysilicone-15, Distarch Phosphate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, PPG-2-Deceth-30, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Reviews
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 a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPhenoxyethanol 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 Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateTocopheryl 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 Water
