What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPEG-12 Laurate
Emulsifying
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientCetyl Dimethylbutyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 85
Emulsifying
Isostearyl Glyceryl Ether
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningSorbeth-60 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-5 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Cholesteryl Isostearate
EmollientIsostearyl Glyceryl Pentaerythrityl Ether
EmollientPEG-6 Sorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSorbeth-40 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
PEG-10 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Succinic Acid
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Paraffinum Liquidum, Isononyl Isononanoate, PEG-12 Laurate, Octyldodecanol, Polysorbate 80, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Cetyl Dimethylbutyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Polysorbate 85, Isostearyl Glyceryl Ether, Water, Sorbeth-60 Tetraoleate, Dipropylene Glycol, Myristyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, PEG-5 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cholesteryl Isostearate, Isostearyl Glyceryl Pentaerythrityl Ether, PEG-6 Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbeth-40 Tetraoleate, PEG-10 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Succinic Acid, BHT, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
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 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 DimethiconeDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateIsononyl Isononanoate is a synthetic skin-conditioner and texture enhancer. It is created from nonanoic acid, a fatty acid found in cocoa and lavender oil.
As an emollient, Isononyl Isononanoate helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is because emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Isononyl Isononanoate helps give products a velvet feel and improves spreadability.
Learn more about Isononyl IsononanoateParaffinum Liquidum is a highly-refined cosmetic-grade mineral oil. It is also known as liquid paraffin.
Despite its controversial reputation, the science is pretty clear: it's one of the most well-studied and effective moisturizing ingredients out there.
As an occlusive, it forms a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This makes it especially great for compromised skin barriers.
The "it clogs your pores" myth has been around for decades; a study found that industrial-grade mineral oil may be comedogenic but cosmetic-grade mineral oil is not (these two are very, very different).
A 2017 review concluded that cosmetic use of mineral oils and waxes does not present a risk to consumers due to absorption.
Mineral oil got a bad rap from the old rabbit ear studies. When tested on actual human skin, cosmetic-grade mineral oil showed no comedogenic activity. The rating of 0 is a correction of outdated science.
Mineral oil is an inert substance with no fatty acids so there's nothing to feed Malassezia. This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Paraffinum LiquidumWater. 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
