What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSucrose Stearate
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingParfum
MaskingPolyurethane-2
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingHydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
CleansingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethyl Mea
BufferingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingLinalool
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitral
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Sucrose Stearate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Synthetic Wax, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Parfum, Polyurethane-2, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Dimethiconol, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glycine Soja Protein, Myristic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethyl Mea, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Linalool, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCellulose
AbsorbentSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingRetinol
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, Ceteareth-20, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cellulose, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Retinol, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-7, Ascorbic Acid
Reviews
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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDimethicone 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 GlycerinPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate is an emollient that helps make your skin smooth and hydrated. It specializes in creating a non-oily and "wet" feeling on skin.
This ingredient comes from isostearic acid, a saturated fatty acid. It is a synthetic ingredient.
Phenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolSodium 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 HydroxideSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Water. 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