What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantZinc Oxide, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Titanium Dioxide, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Chloride, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dextrin Palmitate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propanediol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMethylparaben
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPropylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSilica
AbrasivePentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Water, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Methylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Silica, Pentylene Glycol, CI 77491, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidPolymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneTitanium 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 DioxideTocopheryl 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 AcetateTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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