What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Kaolin
Abrasive
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Alumina
Abrasive
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Ceresin, Glycerin, Silica, Capryloyl Glycine, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propylene Glycol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Aminomethyl Propanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Kaolin, Charcoal Powder, Disodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
Abrasive
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyurethane-35
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Methylpropanediol
SolventSalvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Syringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
Masking
Water, Alcohol, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Heptyl Undecylenate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Silica, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Polyurethane-35, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Tocopherol, Zinc PCA, Maltodextrin, Methylpropanediol, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Syringa Vulgaris Extract, Phenylpropanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a powder used to improve texture, slip, and give products a silky texture.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
