What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Tetrapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTapioca Starch
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polysilicone-11, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Honey Extract, Tetrapeptide-14, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phosphate, Saccharide Isomerate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tapioca Starch, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sorbitan Stearate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone
Emollient
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycerin
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Glycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Water
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
