What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Amp-Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingCeteareth-25
CleansingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butyrolactone
MaskingAcrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer, Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Amp-Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sorbitol, Sodium Carbonate, Ceteareth-25, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77266, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrolactone
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Isostearate
Emollient
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingTrisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water, Decyl Isostearate, Isopropyl Isostearate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Sucrose Cocoate, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Alternatives
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
