What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.8%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 9.8%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.9%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 9.5%
UV Absorber
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Musa Paradisiaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.8%, Homosalate 9.8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.9%, Octocrylene 9.5%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Glycerin, Musa Paradisiaca Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Water
Titanium Dioxide 9%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 6%
Cosmetic Colorant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientDimethoxydiphenylsilane/Triethoxycaprylylsilane Crosspolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Gamma-Nonalactone
Masking
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Sea Water
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide 9%, Zinc Oxide 6%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alumina, Aluminum Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Dimethoxydiphenylsilane/Triethoxycaprylylsilane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Gamma-Nonalactone, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Isostearyl Alcohol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sea Water, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethyl Citrate, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.
In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.
This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.
Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.
Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.
Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).
The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceThis 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 ButterEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
