What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Plant Ash Extract
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Beheneth-10
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Menthol
Masking
Disodium EDTA
C12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingUrea
Buffering
Dextrin
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHexyl Nicotinate
EmollientSucrose
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycoproteins, Plant Ash Extract, Tocopherol, Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Isononyl Isononanoate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Beheneth-10, Panthenol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylamide, Xanthan Gum, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Fructose, BHT, Glucose, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Menthol, Disodium EDTA, C12-13 Pareth-23, Laureth-7, C12-13 Pareth-3, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Urea, Dextrin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hexyl Nicotinate, Sucrose, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Alanine
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polypropylene
Dimethicone
Emollient
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Oleth-10
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLaureth-23
Cleansing
Tromethamine
BufferingLaureth-4
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Polypropylene, Dimethicone, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Oleth-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Hexylene Glycol, Laureth-23, Tromethamine, Laureth-4, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985, CI 14700, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
