What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isohexadecane
EmollientParfum
Masking
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boron Nitride, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, Parfum, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alumina
Abrasive
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Silica, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Alumina, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic 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.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
