What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingNylon-12
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingBoron Nitride
AbsorbentSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialArginine
MaskingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasiveHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Ethylhexyl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Polysorbate 20, Nylon-12, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Boron Nitride, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, CI 77891, Sodium Metaphosphate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Arginine, Cyclodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Tin Oxide, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclomethicone
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveTapioca Starch
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantCreatine
Skin Conditioning1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Methylpropanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Talc, Tapioca Starch, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ubiquinone, Creatine, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cera Microcristallina, Paraffinum Liquidum, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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