What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalane
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Cocoate
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Niacinamide, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Dimethicone, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Squalane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-4 Cocoate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Salicylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Menthoxypropanediol, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sarcosine, Salicylic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
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 GlycerinIsononyl Isononanoate is a synthetic skin-conditioner and texture enhancer. It is created from nonanoic acid, a fatty acid found in cocoa and lavender oil.
As an emollient, Isononyl Isononanoate helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is because emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Isononyl Isononanoate helps give products a velvet feel and improves spreadability.
Learn more about Isononyl IsononanoatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract is derived from marine bacteria found in Antarctic ocean. It has humectant and skin soothing properties.
You’ll most often find this ingredient listed under the trade names Antarcticine or Arctalis.
According to a manufacturer, these ingredients encourage skin regeneration and smoothness by stimulating collagen and elastin production. A manufacturer study found creams containing 1–5% Antarcticine increased skin hydration and reduced wrinkle depth around the eyes.
The manufacturer also claims this extract can help regulate oily skin by reducing sebum production, shine, and minimizing pore size.
Some people have reported that ferments may trigger Malassezia folliculitis. For this reason, we list it as not fungal-acne safe, though individual reactions can vary.
Learn more about Pseudoalteromonas Ferment ExtractWater. 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
