What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPEG-6
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Pentylene Glycol, Beeswax, Squalane, Trideceth-12, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Dimethicone, PEG-6, PEG-32, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningEthyl Linoleate
EmollientLecithin
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDextran
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientOctyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Nonapeptide-1, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Niacinamide, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ceramide NP, Ethyl Linoleate, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Dextran, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arbutin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneEthylhexylglycerin 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 Water