What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol Dicaprylate
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Linoleate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Algae Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantLactic Acid
Buffering
Sucrose Laurate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Algae Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, CI 77288, Lactic Acid, Sucrose Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Sucrose Stearate, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate
Silica
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningLava Powder
Skin ConditioningMaris Aqua
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-10
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica, Water, Lava Powder, Maris Aqua, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglycerin-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Silica, 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
