What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Limonene
Perfuming
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Alcohol Denat., Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Menthyl Lactate, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Ceramide NP, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Linalool, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citral, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Carbonate
BufferingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycine, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Octyldodecanol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
