What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeStearic Acid
CleansingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Homosalate, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Niacinamide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasivePolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCordyceps Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantTrametes Versicolor Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingLavandula Spica Flower Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Chloride
MaskingStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingPropylene Carbonate
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Zinc Oxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Silica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Spica Flower Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Pentylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Propanediol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Citrate, Propylene Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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