What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Oleth-10
EmulsifyingSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Tromethamine
BufferingPEG-8
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 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, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Caffeine, Sorbitol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-10, Sodium Polyaspartate, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Tromethamine, PEG-8, Hexylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140
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
Alternatives
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 CopolymerCaprylyl 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, 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 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.
Saccharide Isomerate comes from sugars found in corn. It is a skin hydrator.
The structure of this ingredient can be altered to be more similar to the carbohydrates found in our skin. This ability to mimic our skin gives it hydrating properties.
Specifically, saccharide Isomerate is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air to our skin.
Research shows Saccharide Isomerate to be an effective moisturizer.
Learn more about Saccharide IsomerateSodium 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
