What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPerlite
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantNylon-12
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCellulose
AbsorbentDipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate
Skin ConditioningSilica Silylate
EmollientDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantMoroccan Lava Clay
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantEmpetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSilica
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Perlite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nylon-12, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Phenoxyethanol, Cellulose, Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate, Silica Silylate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Tocopherol, Moroccan Lava Clay, Glycerin, Empetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice, Aluminum Hydroxide, Silica, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, CI 77163
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Isododecane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantTetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientIron Oxides
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
PEG-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingPEG-240
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecyl Oleate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
CleansingOctyldodecanol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isododecane, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mica, Polysorbate 60, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Iron Oxides, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-2 Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Parfum, PEG-240, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Isohexadecane, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Linolenic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Potassium Laurate, BHT, Glyceryl Caprylate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideButylene 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 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 GlycerinIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecanePeg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
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 HyaluronateThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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