What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLysine
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingMannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Andrographis Paniculata Leaf Extract
AstringentRhamnose
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, C14-22 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Lysine, Azelaic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Disodium Phosphate, Mannitol, Xylitol, Andrographis Paniculata Leaf Extract, Rhamnose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Phosphate, Saccharide Isomerate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Fructooligosaccharides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hexapeptide-2, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingBHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Synthetic Wax, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
