What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingVinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Isododecane
EmollientSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
EmulsifyingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Nylon-12
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDistearyldimonium Chloride
Parfum
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPalmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantMagnesium Palmitoyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Palmitoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantCysteine
AntioxidantMethionine
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantUltramarines
Water, Methyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Niacinamide, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Vinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Titanium Dioxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Sulfate, Isododecane, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Nylon-12, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Parfum, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Palmitoyl Proline, Adenosine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Magnesium Palmitoyl Glutamate, Sodium Palmitoyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, CI 77891, Ultramarines
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCyclopentasiloxane, Water, Zinc Oxide, Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Iron Oxides, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Peg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
Titanium 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 DioxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water