What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polysilicone-11
Cetearyl Olivate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polysilicone-11, Cetearyl Olivate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyisobutene, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Citric Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Betaine
Humectant
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSucrose Stearate
EmollientSodium PCA
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSerine
Masking
Valine
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caproic Acid
Cleansing
Dextran
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Betaine, Boron Nitride, Niacinamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Potassium Hydroxide, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium PCA, Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Resveratrol, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Xanthan Gum, Serine, Valine, Citric Acid, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Potassium Sorbate, Caproic Acid, Dextran, Oligopeptide-1
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
