What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 4%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 4%
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 4%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 2%
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Methylpropanediol
SolventSilica
Abrasive
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenylpropanol
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 4%, Octocrylene 4%, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 4%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 2%, Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Methylpropanediol, Silica, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pvp, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenylpropanol, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-75 Stearate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Vanillin
Masking
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Glyceryl Behenate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Lactate, Dimethicone, Urea, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Ceramide NP, Linolenic Acid, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-75 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Vanillin, Phenylpropanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterC12-15 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 BenzoateCaprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPhenylpropanol is a fragrance.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
