What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Silica
Abrasive
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Water, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Arginine, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tranexamic Acid, Silica, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, C14-22 Alcohols, Butylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Physalis Angulata Extract, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Squalane, Sodium Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Glucose, Phenylpropanol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, BHT, BHA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Acrylamide
Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingVp/Va Copolymer
Methyl Methacrylate
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingIsohexadecane
EmollientPerlite
Absorbent
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Tetrasodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isocetyl Stearate, Alcohol Denat., Silica, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylamide, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Vp/Va Copolymer, Methyl Methacrylate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Cocamide Mea, Sarcosine, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Isohexadecane, Perlite, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Salicylic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 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 GlycerinThis ingredient comes as a powder made up of small, porous, microbeads. It is used to add a silky feel to products and also helps absorb oil.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
