What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPhytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-12
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytic Acid
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Geranyl Acetate
Perfuming
Carvone
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, PEG-40 Stearate, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Cetyl Alcohol, Steareth-2, Dimethicone, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Lauroyl Lysine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-12, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Linalyl Acetate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Geranyl Acetate, Carvone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
PEG-75
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingRibes Nigrum Bud Extract
Perfuming
Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract
MaskingBenzaldehyde
Masking
Hexenyl Acetate
Masking
Gamma-Decalactone
Perfuming
Ionone
Astringent
Ethyl Acetate
Perfuming
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Pantethine
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Essential Oils
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-75, Dimethicone, Persea Gratissima Oil, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, PEG-8, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract, Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract, Benzaldehyde, Hexenyl Acetate, Gamma-Decalactone, Ionone, Ethyl Acetate, Alcohol, Linalool, Limonene, Isopropyl Isostearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sucrose, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Oryza Sativa Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Pantethine, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Punica Granatum Sterols, Sorbitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryzanol, Trehalose, Bisabolol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Essential Oils
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 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 CarbomerCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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.
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 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 Water
