What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolycyclopentadiene
Tribehenin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Propylene Carbonate
SolventParfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Isododecane, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polycyclopentadiene, Tribehenin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Carbonate, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Behenyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Citric Acid
Buffering
Fructose
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingUrea
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Maltose
MaskingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Behenyl Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Citric Acid, Fructose, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, Allantoin, Maltose, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Trehalose, Tropolone, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phytosterols, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sorbitan Oleate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited. Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDisodium 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 EDTADisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (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.
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
