What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentBisabolol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Water, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Propanediol, Diisostearyl Malate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclodextrin, Bisabolol, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSambucus Nigra Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sambucus Nigra Flower Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 CarbomerCetyl 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.
Sodium 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
