What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC12-13 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingSilica
AbrasiveXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc PCA
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Shikimic Acid
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Psoralea Corylifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMagnesium/Aluminum/Hydroxide/Carbonate
Azelaic Acid
BufferingXylitol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlgin
MaskingSerine
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingMethyl Methacrylate
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Glycerin, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycolic Acid, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Zinc PCA, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Shikimic Acid, Arginine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Hydrolyzed Psoralea Corylifolia Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium/Aluminum/Hydroxide/Carbonate, Azelaic Acid, Xylitol, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Squalane, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Polysorbate 60, Pentylene Glycol, Algin, Serine, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Methyl Methacrylate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventSodium Salicylate
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantCopper PCA
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingOligopeptide-10
AntimicrobialCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Panthenol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Sodium Salicylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc PCA, Copper PCA, Citric Acid, Ceramide NP, Sodium Dna, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Oligopeptide-10, Ceramide EOP, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycerinWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumZinc PCA (or "zinc salt") differs slightly from zinc itself. PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. However, Zinc PCA comes from zinc.
It can help reduce redness, regulate sebum, and promote the general healing process of the skin.
Zinc PCA tends to be especially useful for those with oily, acne-prone skin. It's certainly an ingredient worth trying out!
Learn more about Zinc PCA