What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Isododecane
EmollientEthylene/Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Geranium Maculatum Oil
Masking
Santalum Album Oil
Masking
Rose Flower Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Meadowfoam Estolide
Skin ConditioningStyrax Benzoin Gum
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Commiphora Myrrha Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Arginine
Masking
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientGlyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Gossypium Herbaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Valine
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Mica, Cyclohexasiloxane, Silica, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Isododecane, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Silica Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, CI 77891, Potassium Sorbate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Butylene Glycol, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Santalum Album Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Glycine Soja Sterols, Sodium PCA, Meadowfoam Estolide, Styrax Benzoin Gum, Sodium Lactate, Lecithin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ceramide NP, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phenoxyethanol, Arginine, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycosphingolipids, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Ceteareth-20, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycine, Alanine, Gossypium Herbaceum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Serine, Valine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Ceramide AP
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 DimethiconeDimethicone 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.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSilica, 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 SilicaTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
