What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Perfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningDarutoside
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPolyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 188
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, 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 ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Decyl Cocoate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Silanetriol
Rhamnose
HumectantDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningSargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract
MoisturisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Steareth-10
Emulsifying
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingSteareth-20
CleansingHydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Methylpropanediol
SolventLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sorbitol, Cetyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Cetyl Esters, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Decyl Cocoate, Sorbitan Stearate, Silanetriol, Rhamnose, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalane, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Steareth-10, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Steareth-20, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Methylpropanediol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polysorbate 60, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
