What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCandelilla Cera
EmollientAcacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmollientCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientPPG-25-Laureth-25
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantStyrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveSimethicone
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingImidazolidinyl Urea
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
Propylparaben
PreservativeDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningAtelocollagen
Skin ConditioningWater, Candelilla Cera, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, CI 77499, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, PPG-25-Laureth-25, Glycerin, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Steareth-21, Alcohol Denat., Acacia Senegal Gum, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica, Simethicone, Steareth-2, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Propylene Glycol, Mica, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Glycoproteins, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Biotin, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Atelocollagen
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffin
PerfumingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
Cera Alba
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientEthylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingEthylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrogenated Jojoba Oil
AbrasiveHydrogenated Palm Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOleamide
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningRayon
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveLaureth-21
CleansingSoluble Collagen
HumectantSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTrisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningAtelocollagen
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Paraffin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates Copolymer, Cera Alba, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Steareth-2, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleamide, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Rayon, Panthenol, Silica, Laureth-21, Soluble Collagen, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Trisodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Atelocollagen, BHT, Hexylene Glycol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, CI 77007
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Atelocollagen can help to reduce the effects of aging.
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 GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCi 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
This ingredient comes from a palm tree native to Brazil. This ingredient is used to thicken texture and leaves behind a film when applied.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate is derived from isostearic acid. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
The highest concentration of this ingredient is found in lipsticks.
This ingredient is minimally water soluble and may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl TetraisostearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphatePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSilica, 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 SilicaThis silica is mainly used to thicken oils and suspend particles in oils. It is not water soluble.
According to the manufacturer, it:
The manufacturer also claims this ingredient to be useful in makeup.
In lipstick formulations, this ingredient improves color payoff, reduces pigment settling, and reduces oil bleeding. This ingredient also improves the grip of powder products such as dry shampoos.
Learn more about Silica Dimethyl SilylateSodium Chondroitin Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateSteareth-2 is a waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients. It is created from polyethylene glycol and stearyl alcohol. The 2 stands for the number of ethylene oxide units used to create this ingredient.
Due to the low degree of ethoxylation, the molecule stays mostly oil-loving. That's why you'll often see it paired with water-loving steareth-20 or steareth-21 to create elegant emulsions.
In testing, this ingredient was nontoxic in acute oral studies and not a skin irritant or sensitizer.
You might hear concerns about 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylation; this is well-known in the industry and is controlled through purification steps before the ingredient is blended into finished products.
Learn more about Steareth-2Water. 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