What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Squalane, Tapioca Starch, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Ceramide NP, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
Masking
Santalum Album Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol 3.56%
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract 38.05%
Skin Protecting
Glyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Tangerina Extract
TonicGlyceryl Arachidonate
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract 37.18%
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Water, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Glyceryl Linoleate, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Santalum Album Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Panthenol, Resveratrol 3.56%, Cyclopentasiloxane, Citric Acid, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract 38.05%, Glyceryl Linolenate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glycine Soja Oil, Biotin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C12-14 Pareth-12, Ascorbic Acid, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Tangerina Extract, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Polysilicone-11, Phenoxyethanol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract 37.18%, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Adenosine, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Lactic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Retinol, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Tromethamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
