What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningNylon-12
Butylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentTrehalose
HumectantCalcium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSalicylic Acid
MaskingZinc PCA
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningMethicone
EmollientLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
Emollient10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingLecithin
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPropylene Carbonate
SolventDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Methyl Trimethicone, Nylon-12, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Trehalose, Calcium Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Algae Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glycerin, Caffeine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Lecithin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Propylene Carbonate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Silylate
EmollientBoron Nitride
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Totarol
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Cetyl Dimethicone, Carbomer, Silica Silylate, Boron Nitride, Caprylyl Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Totarol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Sodium Citrate, CI 14700, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Butylene 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.
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 DimethiconeDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer is a type of silicone.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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.
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 SilicaSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water