What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningMyreth-3 Myristate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
HumectantVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Myreth-3 Myristate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Stearyl Alcohol, Silica, Tocopherol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, CI 77891, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sorbitol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Potassium Sorbate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Biotin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthyl Oleate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientLauryl Laurate
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePalmitic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEctoin
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytic Acid
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Ethyl Oleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Niacinamide, Behenyl Alcohol, Squalane, Lauryl Laurate, C12-16 Alcohols, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dimethicone, Linoleic Acid, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ectoin, Oleic Acid, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phytic Acid, Ceramide NP, Adenosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Colloidal Oatmeal, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Linolenic Acid, Citric Acid, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinās lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water