What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingXylitol
HumectantChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingXylitylglucoside
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlutamic Acid
HumectantGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantAlcohol
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Trehalose, Algae Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Xylitol, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyacrylamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Xylitylglucoside, Laureth-7, Anhydroxylitol, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glutamic Acid, Glycoproteins, Ceramide NP, Threonine, Valine, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Alcohol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPCA Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventTromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningStearyl Behenate
EmollientMalachite Extract
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingTryptophan
MaskingHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingSaururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningAcorus Gramineus Extract
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Phenyl Trimethicone, PCA Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Carbomer, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Raffinose, Stearyl Behenate, Malachite Extract, Parfum, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Niacinamide, Tryptophan, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Beta-Glucan, Limonene, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Acorus Gramineus Extract, Linalool, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenyl Trimethicone is a silicon-based polymer. It is derived from silica.
Phenyl Trimethicone is used as an emollient and prevents products from foaming.
As an emollient, it helps trap moisture in the skin. It is considered an occlusive.
Learn more about Phenyl TrimethiconeWater. 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