What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveBis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer Ethylcarbamate
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Tartrate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMenthyl PCA
HumectantMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingAlumina
AbrasiveTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyphenylsilsesquioxane
C20-24 Olefin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Carbonate
SolventGlycogen
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantIsomalt
HumectantLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPhytol
EmollientMenthol
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Trisiloxane, Silica, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer Ethylcarbamate, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Tartrate, Diisostearyl Malate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol, Saccharomyces Ferment, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Menthyl PCA, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Dextrin Palmitate, Alumina, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyphenylsilsesquioxane, C20-24 Olefin, Propylene Carbonate, Glycogen, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isomalt, Lauroyl Lysine, Citric Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phytol, Menthol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingHexyl Laurate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Silica, Panthenol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007, CI 77288
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeDimethicone 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 GlycerinIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecanePentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, 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 SilicaChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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