What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientSucrose Polystearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Menthol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBHT
Antioxidant
Totarol
Antioxidant
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Malic Acid
Buffering
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBuddleja Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Water, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dibutyl Adipate, Sucrose Polystearate, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Carbomer, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Microcrystalline Cellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Disodium EDTA, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Totarol, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Zinc PCA, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ectoin, Malic Acid, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Glycerin, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Buddleja Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Silica, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Zinc Oxide, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Titanium Dioxide, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Chloride, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dextrin Palmitate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propanediol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
