What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Ricinoleate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingArginine
MaskingSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialTrehalose
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingCreatine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientLecithin
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPetrolatum
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine Ferulate
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Rna
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium Nadh
EmollientMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate
AntioxidantNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Isostearyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Faex Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Trehalose, Salicylic Acid, Creatine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Lecithin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Petrolatum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Arginine Ferulate, Polysilicone-11, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Rna, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Phospholipids, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Nadh, Micrococcus Lysate, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine Phosphate, Carbomer, Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Polyacrylamide
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTrehalose
HumectantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingMannitol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyacrylamide, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Synthetic Beeswax, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Trehalose, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Laureth-7, Mannitol, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, C12-14 Pareth-12, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, CI 77289, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, CI 42090
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl 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 AcetateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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