What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialSorbitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cholesterol
EmollientMannitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCrithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Gluceth-20, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cholesterol, Mannitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientNylon-12
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDimethiconol
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-8
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantHydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Nylon-12, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alcohol Denat., Dimethiconol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-8, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract, CI 42090, CI 15985, CI 19140, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
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
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 GlycolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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