What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract 1.05%
CleansingBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Trehalose
HumectantArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMentha Haplocalix Extract
MaskingSnail Secretion Filtrate 0.025%
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCitral
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Centella Asiatica Extract 1.05%, Bacillus Ferment, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Trehalose, Arachidyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Olivate, Arginine, Carbomer, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mentha Haplocalix Extract, Snail Secretion Filtrate 0.025%, Menthyl Lactate, Disodium EDTA, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Citral
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArbutin
AntioxidantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSea Water
HumectantEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSnail Secretion Filtrate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Arbutin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Sea Water, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSnail Secretion Filtrate is the excretion from snails. It is an effective moisturizer and promotes collagen production.
A popular nickname for this ingredient is 'Snail Mucin'.
Snail mucin has numerous skin benefits:
On top of this, Snail Secretion Filtrate contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. These include copper peptides, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E. Vitamins A and E are antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals that damage skin cells.
Being cruelty-free means a brand does not experiment on animals.
If you're worried about the well-being of the snails, we recommend looking more into the company of the product. Many brands have developed humane methods to collect snail mucin.
There is much debate on this subject. On one hand, this ingredient comes from an animal. On the other hand, many will argue the ingredient is naturally secreted (like a natural by-product) and therefore vegan. If you have reservations, you can look into Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate or Centella Asiatica Extract as alternatives.
Learn more about Snail Secretion Filtrate