What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Glycerin
HumectantBenzoic Acid
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingMyrtus Communis Leaf Extract
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Glycerin, Benzoic Acid, BHT, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Phosphate, Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningDi-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Tapioca Starch
Glycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDiglycerin
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMalic Acid
BufferingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingLactic Acid
BufferingPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingJojoba Esters
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPEG-100 Stearate
Propanediol
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPiroctone Olamine
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Salicylic Acid
MaskingZinc Lactate
Asiaticoside
AntioxidantAcacia Decurrens Flower Cera
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRhamnose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantGlucuronic Acid
BufferingWater, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Tapioca Starch, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Diglycerin, Glycerin, Malic Acid, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Lactic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Jojoba Esters, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Parfum, PEG-100 Stearate, Propanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglycerin-3, Piroctone Olamine, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Salicylic Acid, Zinc Lactate, Asiaticoside, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rhamnose, Glucose, Glucuronic Acid
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 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.
This ingredient is also known as PMMA. It is a polymer microsphere, composed of tiny, perfectly spherical particles formed from repeating units.
In cosmetics, PMMA is mainly used to give a soft or blurring effect. The transparent particles are able to scatter light and help reduce the appearance of fine-lines and imperfections.
PMMA is also able to enhance the texture of products by add a smooth feel.
Learn more about Polymethyl MethacrylateSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum