What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Undecane
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tridecane
Perfuming
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propanediol, Undecane, Saccharide Isomerate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Retinol, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbate, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Arginine, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Threonine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, PCA, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Lactate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tridecane, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Laureth-12, Betaine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate
Emulsifying
Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingPolyacrylamide
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyethylene, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Polyacrylamide, Titanium Dioxide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Dimethiconol, Parfum, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Mica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
