What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Oleate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octenidine Hcl, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Shea Butter Glycerides
Emulsifying
Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Benzoate
Masking
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Soyethyl Morpholinium Ethosulfate
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglycerin-3, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Shea Butter Glycerides, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Gluconate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Panthenol, Alpha-Arbutin, Hyaluronic Acid, Soyethyl Morpholinium Ethosulfate
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Glucoside is made from glycerol and glucose.
It is a humectant. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture to it from the air.
Some foods that contain glyceryl glucoside include sake, miso, and wines.
Learn more about Glyceryl GlucosidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
