What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventSd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylate-15
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-17
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCI 77268:1
Cosmetic ColorantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingSodium Laureth-12 Sulfate
CleansingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialMethylparaben
PreservativeAcetic Acid
BufferingButylparaben
MaskingEthylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Caprylyl Methicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Isohexadecane, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylate-15, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyacrylate-17, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sorbitan Oleate, Adenosine, CI 77268:1, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Methylparaben, Acetic Acid, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Hexylene Glycol
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 10%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 2.6%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientSd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
EmollientOligopeptide-24
Skin ConditioningSilybin
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyacrylate-15
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Lecithin
EmollientPolygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientPolyacrylate-17
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingC11-15 Pareth-40
CleansingC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantParfum
MaskingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Laureth-12 Sulfate
CleansingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 2.6%, Water, Caprylyl Methicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Oligopeptide-24, Silybin, Carnosine, Adenosine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate-15, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Polyacrylate-17, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, C11-15 Pareth-40, C11-15 Pareth-7, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Parfum, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAdenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCaprylyl Methicone is a synthetic and lightweight silicone fluid. It gives products a silky, dry-touch finish without the heaviness of pure oils.
Though the EU CosIng Database lists this ingredient as a skin conditioner, it is also used for sensory reasons. It spreads easily, cuts greasiness, and reduces tackiness.
This ingredient is volatile which means it will mostly evaporate (but it evaporates slower than older cyclomethicones, like Cyclotetrasiloxane).
Typical concentration ranges from 1-30% depending on if it's being used to tweak the feel of a product or acting as the main emollient.
Learn more about Caprylyl MethiconeCetyl 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 AlcoholDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAWe don't have a description for Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate yet.
Glyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolThis ingredient is a semi-solid mixture derived from palm oil triglycerides. It has emollient, emulsifying, and skin conditioning properties.
Due to the rich fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecaneThis is a plant-derived emulsifier made from stearic acid. It mainly acts as a water-in-oil emulsifier to keep formulas blended and stable.
Human Repeat Insult Patch Test showed no irritation or sensitization and a 28-day study on 51 subjects found no intolerance reactions.
Due to it being made from stearic acid, this ingredient may not be Malassezia safe.
Learn more about Methyl Glucose SesquistearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPeg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
We don't have a description for PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer yet.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for Polyacrylate-15 yet.
We don't have a description for Polyacrylate-17 yet.
Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphatePotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSD Alcohol 40-B is created by denaturing ethanol with tert-Butyl alcohol and denatonium benzoate. It is a solvent and astringent.
The 'SD' stands for 'specially denatured'. Denatured alcohol means the structure has been altered.
The 40-B is given by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This is in accordance to the method of how the alcohol was denatured.
This ingredient is a solvent alcohol.
Learn more about Sd Alcohol 40-BThis long ingredient is a copolymer of sodium acrylate and sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate monomers.
It is used to help stabilize other ingredients and create a thicker gel-like texture.
Emulsifiers prevent oils and waters from separating.
Learn more about Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerSodium Laureth-12 Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Sorbitan Oleate is created from compounds in oleic acid and sorbitol.
It is used to stabilize a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Emulsifiers help keep ingredients together, such as oils and water.
According to a manufacturer, the ingredient Sorbitan Monooleate shares an INCI name with this one.
Sorbitan Oleate may not be fungal acne safe. It can also worsen oily skin.
Learn more about Sorbitan OleateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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