What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Acrylates/Va Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Caffeine, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Cera Alba, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, PEG-8, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Acrylates/Va Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningC11-12 Isoparaffin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8 Dilaurate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C11-12 Isoparaffin, Butylene Glycol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Squalane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-8 Dilaurate, Parfum, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, CI 61570, 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.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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
