What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPropanediol
SolventDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentDihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPEG-9 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningTridecane
PerfumingUndecane
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningSteareth-21
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Surfactin
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningSucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingZinc PCA
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEctoin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlucosylrutin
AntioxidantPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentIsoquercitrin
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicBuddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrated Silica
AbrasivePalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sorbitan Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl, Hydrogenated Lecithin, PEG-9 Dimethicone, Cetearyl Methicone, Tridecane, Undecane, Caprylyl Methicone, Steareth-21, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Surfactin, Phytosterols, Sucrose Cocoate, Sodium Benzoate, Zinc PCA, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ectoin, Glycerin, Glucosylrutin, Polyester-7, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Zea Mays Starch, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Isoquercitrin, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Salicylic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactic Acid, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydrated Silica, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Glucose, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPolyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
Stearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSalvia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingRosa Damascena Flower Water Extract
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientRice Bran Acid
CleansingSqualane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water Extract, Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Isopropyl Myristate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Rice Bran Acid, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneEthylhexyl 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 MethoxycinnamateEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Glycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid is naturally found in healthy skin. It is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture to your skin.
This ingredient helps hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin.
What makes hyaluronic acid so hydrating? It has the capacity to bind or hold large amounts of water.
Fun fact: It is already naturally found in our bodies, such as the fluids of our eyes and our joints.
Studies find this ingredient to have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. This can help speed up wound-healing.
Hyaluronic acid can be irritating if the molecule has a low-molecular weight, or if the molecules are small.
One study found low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid to be pro-inflammatory, meaning some people may experience irritation. This is because our bodies use hyaluronic acid in the wound-healing process to signal to our bodies, via irritation, that something needs healing.
The same study found high-molecular weight hyaluronic acid to be anti-inflammatory.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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 Water