What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMannitol
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Bletia Hyacinthina Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Squalane, Xylitylglucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Trehalose, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Anhydroxylitol, Butylene Glycol, C14-22 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Mannitol, Beta-Glucan, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Bletia Hyacinthina Bulb Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Water, Propylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Menthyl Lactate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propylene Glycol Isostearate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
