What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingC15-19 Alkane
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHectorite
AbsorbentStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel Forming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Zinc Oxide, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Niacinamide, C15-19 Alkane, Pentylene Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Adenosine, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Hectorite, Stearalkonium Hectorite, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pyridoxine, Thiamine Hcl, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientPhenethyl Benzoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingTris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV AbsorberStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingSerine
MaskingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberPhenylpropanol
MaskingMagnesium Sulfate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
PEG-8
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Algin
MaskingPullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingLecithin
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPropylene Carbonate
SolventDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Trisiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Diisopropyl Adipate, Caprylyl Methicone, Titanium Dioxide, Niacinamide, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Plankton Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenylpropanol, Magnesium Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, PEG-8, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Potassium Phosphate, Propylene Carbonate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideAscorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycolCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfateNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterZinc Oxide is a mineral broad-spectrum UV filter; it is the broadest UVA and UVB reflector approved by the FDA. It also has skin protectant and skin soothing properties.
Zinc oxide is one of the most effective broad-spectrum UV filters. It protects against UVB, UVAII, and UVAI. In comparison to its counterpart titanium dioxide, zinc oxide provides uniform and extended UVA protection.
Another great benefit? This ingredient is highly photostable so it won't degrade easily under sunlight.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters are widely believed to primarily reflect UV light.
However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Zinc oxide has great skin soothing properties so you'll likely find this in sunscreens formulated for sensitive skin or babies/children. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
Regulatory agencies consider zinc oxide to be non-toxic and safe. It has also been shown to not penetrate the skin.
Unfortunately, this ingredient does leave a visible white cast. This is why mineral sunscreens are often less cosmetically elegant than chemical or hybrid ones.
In cosmetics, zinc oxide can be found in both non-nano and nano-sized forms. The nano version is used to reduce white cast and improve the texture of sunscreen formulas.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-zinc oxide's impact on marine ecosystems and whether it can be absorbed into skin.
Regarding marine ecosystems and coral reefs, there is no conclusive evidence that any form of zinc oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
There has also been some stir about whether micronized or nano zinc oxide has potential photoxicity and absorption through the skin/lungs.
An in-vitro (done in a test tube or petri dish) study demonstrated micronized zinc oxide to have potential phototoxicity. There's no need to fret; the EU Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has stated, "The relevance of these findings needs to be clarified by appropriate investigations in vivo." Or in other words, further studies done on living organisms are needed to prove this.
Current research shows zinc oxide nanoparticles do not penetrate intact or sunburned skin. They either remain on the surface or in the outermost layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
Zinc oxide is one of only two classified mineral UV filters with titanium dioxide being the other one.
Fun fact: Zinc has been used throughout history as an ingredient in paint and medicine. An Indian text from 500BC is believed to list zinc oxide as a salve for open wound. The Ancient Greek physician Dioscorides has also mentioned the use of zinc as an ointment in 1AD.
Learn more about Zinc Oxide