What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-7
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-7 Methyl Ether
SolventPEG-32
HumectantBoron Nitride
AbsorbentNylon-12
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCyclomethicone
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialEthylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Styrene/Acrylamide Copolymer
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCyclotetrasiloxane
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePapain
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantRosa Alba Leaf Cell Extract
AntioxidantCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAlgin
MaskingCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveLecithin
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycereth-7, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Mica, PEG-7 Methyl Ether, PEG-32, Boron Nitride, Nylon-12, CI 77891, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, CI 77491, Tocopherol, CI 77163, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylparaben, Parfum, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Styrene/Acrylamide Copolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, CI 77492, Benzophenone-4, CI 77499, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Papain, BHT, Rosa Alba Leaf Cell Extract, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Algin, CI 75470, Tin Oxide, Lecithin, Methylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Ascorbic Acid
AntioxidantStearic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Phytate, Ascorbic Acid, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Squalane, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Reviews
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
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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