What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberC15-19 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningC12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer
StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientParfum
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Bisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantTaraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicDextrin
AbsorbentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Homosalate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Parfum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glycine Soja Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Bisabolol, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Polyglycerin-3, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Dextrin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Limonene, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Citric Acid
Titanium Dioxide 3.71%
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 2.71%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCoconut Alkanes
EmollientAlumina
AbrasiveGlycogen
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Ursolic Acid
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingTitanium Dioxide 3.71%, Zinc Oxide 2.71%, Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Coconut Alkanes, Alumina, Glycogen, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ursolic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water