What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSucrose
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientOleth-10
EmulsifyingSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Tromethamine
BufferingPEG-8
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trisiloxane, Trehalose, Sucrose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Caffeine, Sorbitol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-10, Sodium Polyaspartate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Tromethamine, PEG-8, Hexylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Myristate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantTin Oxide
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Lactic Acid
BufferingAcetic Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Zea Mays Starch, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Myristyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lactic Acid, Acetic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 47005, CI 77891, CI 15510, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 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 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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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