What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDimethyl Mea
BufferingResveratrol
AntioxidantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCopper PCA
HumectantCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantRetinol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientThioctic Acid
AntioxidantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Dimethyl Mea, Resveratrol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Copper PCA, Ceramide Ng, Ubiquinone, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Thioctic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrated Silica
AbrasiveHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Retinyl Palmitate, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sorbitan Laurate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 AlcoholDimethicone 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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