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
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 2%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentPeucedanum Graveolens Extract
TonicSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentAvena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 2%, Water, Glycerin, Silica, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Peucedanum Graveolens Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Carbomer, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopherol 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 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 Gum
