What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Triethanolamine
BufferingTrisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Creatine
Skin ConditioningAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Carnitine Hcl
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin Protecting7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Rna
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientArabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Trehalose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingPhytic Acid
Lecithin
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Propanediol, Triethanolamine, Trisiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Plankton Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Ergothioneine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Creatine, Adenosine Phosphate, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Micrococcus Lysate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Caffeine, Sodium Rna, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Faex Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Arginine, Polyethylene, Trehalose, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Capryloyl Glycine, Phytic Acid, Lecithin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Water, Octyldodecanol, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Phytosphingosine, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, BHT, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTDimethicone 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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
