What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Tapioca Starch
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Silica, Tapioca Starch, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine Hcl, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrogen Dimethicone
Propylene Carbonate
SolventInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Sinensis Peel Extract
Perfuming
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Yeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
Masking
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phytic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polianthes Tuberosa Extract
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Zinc Oxide, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Methylpropanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Sucrose Palmitate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Silica, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrated Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Pentylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Bisabolol, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Citrus Sinensis Peel Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Yeast Polysaccharides, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Ectoin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polianthes Tuberosa Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Ceramide NP, Disodium Phosphate, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Phytosphingosine, Methylparaben, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 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 PhenoxyethanolSilica, 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 SilicaSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
