What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Silica
Abrasive
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Hectorite
AbsorbentAmethyst Powder
Abrasive
Quartz
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Hectorite, Amethyst Powder, Quartz, Glycerin, Water, Dehydroacetic Acid, Iron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
Abrasive
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Candelilla Cera
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Cetearyl Olivate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Honokiol
Antioxidant
Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract
TonicHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantMica, Silica, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Glyceryl Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Sorbate, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Water, Stearic Acid, Candelilla Cera, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Cetearyl Olivate, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Olivate, Honokiol, Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateThis ingredient is an emollient and emulsifier.
Due to its thick oil / waxy texture, it has emollient properties. Emollients help hydrate skin by creating a thin film. This film prevents moisture from escaping.
Glyceryl Undecylenate is created from glycerin and undecylenic acid.
Undecylenic Acid is a fungal treatment, but is not as effective as newer medications.
Some people who have sensitive skin may find this ingredient to trigger Malassezia folliculitis, but not everyone will react to it.
Learn more about Glyceryl UndecylenateThis ingredient comes from a fatty acid (lauric acid) and amino acid (lysine). It is used to add a silky feel to cosmetics.
According to a manufacturer, its fatty acid base leaves a silky feeling on the skin. It also has emollient properties because of this. Emollients help soften skin by preventing water from evaporating.
Lauroyl lysine is barely soluble in water.
Learn more about Lauroyl LysinePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
