What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Nylon-12
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTalc
Abrasive
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Propylene Carbonate
SolventHydrogen Dimethicone
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCoral Powder
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Nylon-12, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Talc, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Benzoic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Aluminum Hydroxide, Coral Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Juice
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xylitol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Sulfite
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhosphoric Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Silica, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isoamyl Laurate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Xylitylglucoside, Cucumis Sativus Juice, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anhydroxylitol, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xylitol, Allantoin, Betaine, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Sulfite, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phosphoric Acid, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
