What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantCereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingPelargonium Graveolens Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingCucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrolyzed Dna
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingWater, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Dna, Parfum, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Benzoate, Adenosine, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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