What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Triethanolamine
BufferingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-100 Stearate
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methylparaben
Preservative
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Triethanolamine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylparaben, Palmitic Acid, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Cetyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Aluminum Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tribehenin
Emollient
Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentSorbitol
Humectant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sodium Chloride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tribehenin, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Mica, CI 77891, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Propylene Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Dipropylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Sorbitol, CI 19140, CI 14700, Tocopherol
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 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 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
