What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterNiacinamide
SmoothingDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterGlycerin
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningPentapeptide-3
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantAlpinia Galanga Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSchizosaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantPolyether-1
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylpropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Collagen Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Nonapeptide-1, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Pentapeptide-3, Hexapeptide-9, Glyceryl Glucoside, Alpinia Galanga Extract, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Squalane, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Decyl Glucoside, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Trisiloxane, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Schizosaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Polyether-1, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Fructooligosaccharides, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylpropanediol, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Fructan, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Inulin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, CI 77492, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingStearyl Heptanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingAlumina
AbrasiveTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantC11-13 Isoparaffin
SolventGlutathione
Sodium Phytate
Oryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPsidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Liliflora Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Tigrinum Extract
Skin ConditioningPlumeria Rubra Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSasa Quelpaertensis Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Stearyl Heptanoate, Dimethicone, CI 77891, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Dimethiconol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Alumina, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Trideceth-6, Propanediol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, C11-13 Isoparaffin, Glutathione, Sodium Phytate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Magnolia Liliflora Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePolyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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