What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Arginine PCA
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate
HumectantAdenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Caprylic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Xylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Arginine PCA, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Silybum Marianum Extract, Acetyl Tyrosine, Proline, Carnosine, Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate, Adenosine Triphosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lecithin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Caprylic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Polyisobutene, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Xylitol, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Eperua Falcata Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Ethyl Oleate, Niacinamide, Squalane, C12-16 Alcohols, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Maltodextrin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Ectoin, Tocopherol, Eperua Falcata Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytic Acid, Adenosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, 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.
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, 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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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 Water
