What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCyclomethicone
Emollient
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Acid
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientDimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Emollient
Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Quaternium-18 Bentonite
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingButyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cyclomethicone, Ozokerite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Cera Alba, Hydrogenated Palm Acid, Stearyl Stearate, Isohexadecane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Diisostearyl Malate, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Quaternium-18 Bentonite, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Butyl Avocadate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Carbonate
SolventAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Humectant
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-6
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantChromium Oxide Greens
Water, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-1, Heptapeptide-6, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Tocopherol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, Chromium Oxide Greens
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePhenoxyethanol 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.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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
