What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingIsododecane
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Arginine
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melanin
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Fructose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sechium Edule Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dibutyl Adipate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Niacinamide, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Silica, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Isododecane, Propylene Carbonate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Arginine, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Royal Jelly Extract, Melanin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Fructose, Glycerin, Sechium Edule Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phosphate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Xanthan Gum
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogen Dimethicone
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogen Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Silica, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Hydrated Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
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 GlycolCaprylyl Methicone is a synthetic and lightweight silicone fluid. It gives products a silky, dry-touch finish without the heaviness of pure oils.
Though the EU CosIng Database lists this ingredient as a skin conditioner, it is also used for sensory reasons. It spreads easily, cuts greasiness, and reduces tackiness.
This ingredient is volatile which means it will mostly evaporate (but it evaporates slower than older cyclomethicones, like Cyclotetrasiloxane).
Typical concentration ranges from 1-30% depending on if it's being used to tweak the feel of a product or acting as the main emollient.
Learn more about Caprylyl MethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPeg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
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 SilicaChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
