What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 6%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethylheptenal
Perfuming
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 6%, Water, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Ethylene Brassylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethylheptenal
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 4%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientTrisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientPhytol
Emollient
Thiodipropionic Acid
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Ammonium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Tiliacora Triandra Leaf/Vine Extract
Antioxidant
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Thiazolylalanine
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantSd Alcohol 40-B
Astringent
Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment
Saccharomyces/Malachite Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Tourmaline Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin Conditioning
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantSteareth-20
CleansingLecithin
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Lysyl Aminovaleroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5%, Benzophenone-3 4%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%, Homosalate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Trisiloxane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Phytol, Thiodipropionic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethiconol, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, PEG-150 Distearate, Caramel, Parfum, Tiliacora Triandra Leaf/Vine Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract, Maltodextrin, Thiazolylalanine, Isomalt, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Malachite Ferment, Saccharomyces/Tourmaline Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, CI 14700, Steareth-20, Lecithin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Lysyl Aminovaleroyl Lysine
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 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 GlycerinPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
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 60Water. 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
