What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Myreth-3 Myristate
Emollient
PEG-45/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Aluminum Sucrose Octasulfate
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Copper Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Myreth-3 Myristate, PEG-45/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer, Dimethicone, Aluminum Sucrose Octasulfate, Octyldodecanol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Copper Sulfate, Dimethiconol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glyceryl Stearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Sulfate
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMel
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Tapioca Starch
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Stearyl Dimethicone, Squalane, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Mel, Pvp, Magnesium Sulfate, Tapioca Starch, Chlorphenesin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polyquaternium-51, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 GlycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfateParaffinum Liquidum is a highly-refined cosmetic-grade mineral oil. It is also known as liquid paraffin.
Despite its controversial reputation, the science is pretty clear: it's one of the most well-studied and effective moisturizing ingredients out there.
As an occlusive, it forms a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This makes it especially great for compromised skin barriers.
The "it clogs your pores" myth has been around for decades; a study found that industrial-grade mineral oil may be comedogenic but cosmetic-grade mineral oil is not (these two are very, very different).
A 2017 review concluded that cosmetic use of mineral oils and waxes does not present a risk to consumers due to absorption.
Mineral oil got a bad rap from the old rabbit ear studies. When tested on actual human skin, cosmetic-grade mineral oil showed no comedogenic activity. The rating of 0 is a correction of outdated science.
Mineral oil is an inert substance with no fatty acids so there's nothing to feed Malassezia. This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Paraffinum LiquidumPeg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate is created from polyethylene glycol and fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is a synthetic polymer with emulsifying and cleansing properties.
As an emulsifier, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate prevents ingredients such as oils and water from separating. It also helps rinse away oils, dirt, and pollutants from skin.
Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate may not be fungal acne safe. It can also dry out skin.
Learn more about PEG-7 Glyceryl CocoateWater. 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
