What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
AntioxidantPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientC9-11 Pareth-6
EmulsifyingOctyldodecyl Oleate
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialLecithin
EmollientArbutin
AntioxidantLinolenic Acid
CleansingLinoleic Acid
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantGlutathione
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Squalane, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, C9-11 Pareth-6, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Alcohol, Lecithin, Arbutin, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glutathione, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberMethylpropanediol
SolventCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHexyl Laurate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingYeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSericin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarnosine
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Algin
Helichrysum Italicum Extract
Antiseborrhoeic1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methylpropanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hexyl Laurate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethoxydiglycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Decyl Glucoside, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bisabolol, Trideceth-6, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Yeast Polysaccharides, Ectoin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sericin, Propylene Glycol, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carnosine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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