What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Didecene
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Nylon-12
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methicone
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Talc
Abrasive
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Combretum Fruticosum Flower Nectar
MaskingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Hydrogenated Didecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Nylon-12, Dimethicone, Methicone, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Talc, Lauroyl Lysine, Combretum Fruticosum Flower Nectar, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysilicone-11
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Squalane
Emollient
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract
AstringentLecithin
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Leaf Extract
HumectantLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Phoenix Dactylifera Seed
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Alanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77891, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Mica, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Pvp, PEG-10 Dimethicone, CI 77492, CI 77120, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77491, Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polysilicone-11, Palmitic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Squalane, CI 77499, Parfum, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Myristic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract, Lecithin, Simmondsia Chinensis Leaf Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Alcohol, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ascorbic Acid, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Tromethamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Sodium Metabisulfite, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Ceramide NP, Threonine, Proline, Sodium Sulfite, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Dunaliella Salina Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisteardimonium 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 HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethicone is a type of silicone and is a simpler form of dimethicone.
Silicones are used to enhance the texture of products and have emollient properties. Methicone is used to give products a silky texture and improves spreadability.
Chances 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 ChlorideWater. 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
