What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Lecithin
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Jojoba Esters, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Glycerin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Caffeine, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactis Proteinum, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Phytosterols, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lecithin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycine Soja Protein, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientLactic Acid
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Enteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSantalum Album Extract
CleansingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Phytate
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
PEG-75 Stearate
Isohexadecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethylhydroxy Furanone
MaskingVanillin
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycolic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Riboflavin, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bakuchiol, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Santalum Album Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Phytate, Glucose, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, PEG-75 Stearate, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Triethyl Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethylhydroxy Furanone, Vanillin, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
