What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Montanate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEmulsifying Wax Nf
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterSqualane
EmollientOzonized Sesame Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Montanate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Squalane, Ozonized Sesame Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberEmulsifying Wax Nf
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantVanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil
EmollientCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Glycerin, Benzophenone-3, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Alpha-Arbutin, Ceramide AP, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Milk Protein, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Niacinamide, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideOctocrylene 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterThis is not considered an INCI ingredient.
Emulsifying Wax NF is about 2/3 cetearyl alcohol and 1/3 polysorbate 60. In cosmetics, this blend is usually listed out as the individual ingredients.
The NF stands for National Formulary, meaning it conforms to the approved composition.
This ingredient is used as an emulsifier. It stabilizes the product by keeping oils and waters together.
Learn more about Emulsifying Wax Nf