What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Propylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantResveratrol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Cyclodextrin, Polydextrose, Resveratrol, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Trifluoropropyldimethyl/Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Dipeptide-15
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Cellulose
Absorbent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Thymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Methyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Trifluoropropyldimethyl/Trimethylsiloxysilicate, CI 77120, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipeptide-15, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Cellulose, CI 77891, Mica, Tocopherol, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-51, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Zinc Oxide, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Dipropylene Glycol
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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerDisodium 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 EDTADisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoritePhenoxyethanol 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.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
