What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Isododecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingC24-28 Alkyl Methicone
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethicone, Water, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Silica, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Benzoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, C24-28 Alkyl Methicone, Propylene Carbonate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol
Salicylic Acid 1.8%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Tromethamine
BufferingLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Kaolin
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSalicylic Acid 1.8%, Water, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ceresin, Paraffin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tromethamine, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Zinc PCA, Kaolin, Silica, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77288, CI 77492
Reviews
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 DimethiconeThis is a silicone-based ingredient that helps create a smooth, silky, "bouncy" texture. It also acts as an emulsifier that prevents ingredients from separating in a formula.
Due to its large molecule size and water-insolubility, this ingredient is unlikely to be absorbed into skin. Irritation and sensitization tests have found reactions to silicones are considered very rare.
You'll likely see this ingredient in leave-on products at concentrations of 0.03%-3%.
Learn more about Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 CrosspolymerGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 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 ChlorideThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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
