What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Anhydroxylitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Dimethiconol
EmollientDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract
AstringentGlucose
HumectantKalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningSempervivum Tectorum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingHierochloe Odorata Extract
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantLapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Parfum, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Xylitylglucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitol, Disodium EDTA, Dimethiconol, Decylene Glycol, Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract, Glucose, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Sempervivum Tectorum Extract, Citric Acid, Hierochloe Odorata Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 42090, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPolypropylene
Dimethicone
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
AbrasiveCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantOleth-10
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLaureth-23
CleansingTromethamine
BufferingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Polypropylene, Dimethicone, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Oleth-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Hexylene Glycol, Laureth-23, Tromethamine, Laureth-4, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985, CI 14700, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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