What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantPentadecalactone
Masking
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Centipeda Cunninghamii Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingZinc PCA
Humectant
Rubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicBHT
Antioxidant
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Silica, Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Polysorbate 60, Isononyl Isononanoate, Maltodextrin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Parfum, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PEG-8, Pentadecalactone, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Lecithin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Centipeda Cunninghamii Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Carbomer, Zinc PCA, Rubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Ceramide NP, Beta-Sitosterol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, CI 42090, Biotin, BHT, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polybutene
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone 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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
