What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSucrose Distearate
EmollientSucrose Stearate
EmollientAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantPerfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningDarutoside
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPolyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 188
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Sucrose Distearate, Sucrose Stearate, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Perfluorodecalin, Darutoside, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Poloxamer 188, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropanediol Dicaprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPerfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Pulp Extract
EmollientPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPunica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantDarutoside
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLactose
HumectantVitis Vinifera Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePoloxamer 188
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Pentylene Glycol, C12-16 Alcohols, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Perfluorodecalin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Milk Protein, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Darutoside, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Lactose, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Water, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Propylene Glycol, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Poloxamer 188, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract yet.
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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerWe don't have a description for Darutoside yet.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Perfluorodecalin yet.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for Poloxamer 188 yet.
We don't have a description for Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether yet.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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