What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
PEG-11 Cocamide
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Di-C12-15 Pareth-8 Phosphate
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-11 Cocamide, Triethanolamine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Di-C12-15 Pareth-8 Phosphate, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
PPG-9 Diglyceryl Ether
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
EmulsifyingSoymilk Isoflavones
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentasodium Pentetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Isododecane, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PPG-9 Diglyceryl Ether, Polysorbate 60, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Soymilk Isoflavones, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Cyclodextrin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pentasodium Pentetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenParaffinum Liquidum is a highly-refined cosmetic-grade mineral oil. It is also known as liquid paraffin.
Despite its controversial reputation, the science is pretty clear: it's one of the most well-studied and effective moisturizing ingredients out there.
As an occlusive, it forms a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This makes it especially great for compromised skin barriers.
The "it clogs your pores" myth has been around for decades; a study found that industrial-grade mineral oil may be comedogenic but cosmetic-grade mineral oil is not (these two are very, very different).
A 2017 review concluded that cosmetic use of mineral oils and waxes does not present a risk to consumers due to absorption.
Mineral oil got a bad rap from the old rabbit ear studies. When tested on actual human skin, cosmetic-grade mineral oil showed no comedogenic activity. The rating of 0 is a correction of outdated science.
Mineral oil is an inert substance with no fatty acids so there's nothing to feed Malassezia. This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Paraffinum LiquidumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
