What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Diethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Honey
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrolyzed Mango Juice Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oak Root Extract
Skin ConditioningIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sesbania Sesban Leaf Extract
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cerium Oxide
Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Carnitine
Cleansing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningKunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Extract
Antioxidant
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Pantetheine Sulfonate
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Platinum
Antimicrobial
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingMenthol
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEicosapentaenoic Acid
Emollient
Iron Oxides
Alumina
Abrasive
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Honey, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Mango Juice Extract, Hydrolyzed Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract, Oak Root Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Retinol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sesbania Sesban Leaf Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Yeast Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Cerium Oxide, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Caffeine, Carnitine, Lactic Acid, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract, Zea Mays Oil, Pantetheine Sulfonate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Platinum, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Sodium Phosphate, Menthol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Octocrylene, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Iron Oxides, Alumina, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Diamond Powder, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPinus Pinaster Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Bifida Polysaccharide
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Squalane, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Pinus Pinaster Leaf Extract, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearic Acid, Bifida Polysaccharide, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 (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 GlycerinJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilT-Butyl Alcohol it is most commonly used as a solvent.
At room temperature, T-Butyl Alcohol melts and has a similar smell to camphor.
This ingredient is derived from isobutane. It is the simplest form of a tertiary alcohol. Due to its chemical structure, it is more resistant to oxidation.
Some sources online claim T-Butyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. However, it is not considered one due to its chemical structure.
Learn more about T-Butyl AlcoholTocopherol 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
