What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveAlcohol
AntimicrobialSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Butylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientGellan Gum
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCalcium Alginate
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBHT
AntioxidantDiamond Powder
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Silica, Alcohol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, CI 77891, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Gellan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Calcium Alginate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, CI 77491, Tin Oxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, BHT, Diamond Powder, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Silylate
EmollientBoron Nitride
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Totarol
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Cetyl Dimethicone, Carbomer, Silica Silylate, Boron Nitride, Caprylyl Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Totarol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Sodium Citrate, CI 14700, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water