What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Talc
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Alcohol Denat., Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Talc, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Synthetic Wax, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Stearate, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Oleoyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicSqualane
Emollient
Juglans Regia Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningHypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Trilinolein
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Trilinolenin
EmollientTriolein
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOleic Acid
Emollient
Tripalmitin
Skin ConditioningTristearin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Octocrylene, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Ectoin, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Acetyl Tyrosine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Oleoyl Tyrosine, Medicago Sativa Extract, Squalane, Juglans Regia Shell Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Dextran, Isopropyl Myristate, Decyl Glucoside, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Trilinolein, Aspartic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Coco-Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Trilinolenin, Triolein, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Oleic Acid, Tripalmitin, Tristearin, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Copper Gluconate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDisodium 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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
