What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tambourissa Trichophylla Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Schisandra Sphenanthera Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMannitol
Humectant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Boron Nitride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, CI 77891, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Polysorbate 20, Zea Mays Starch, Schisandra Sphenanthera Fruit Extract, Tin Oxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Isohexadecane, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Mannitol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Maltodextrin, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Mica, CI 77288, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester is a peptide composed of amino acids arginine and tyrosine.
This peptide is considered a neurotransmitter peptide, meaning it has pain-relieving and relaxing properties. It has the ability to calm skin irritation from external factors such as chemical stinging or heat.
Neurotransmitter peptides are also often called "botox in a bottle". This is because these peptides have the ability to relax the muscles.
Though relaxing the muscles can prevent expression lines (as we have seen in botox), the studies do not show these peptides to be a botox replacement. The effects of this muscle relaxation is also short-term, as opposed to longer-term results from botox.
Learn more about Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl EsterAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer made from ammonium salts. It works as a thickener, emulsifier, and texture enhancer that gives gel-creams a silky, lightweight feel.
This ingredient is versatile and low-maintenance so manufacturers love working with it.
Typical usage levels in cosmetics are usually low and in the range of 0.015 - 2.3%.
Learn more about Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateButylene 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer is made up of glycerin and polyacrylic acid. It helps hydrate your skin as a humectant.
This ingredient forms a hydrogel that delivers moisturizing, water-based ingredients to the skin. It is also used to thicken a product and to give it a smooth texture.
Acrylic acid itself is toxic, but the polymer form (this ingredient) is too large to penetrate skin, making it non-toxic.
Learn more about Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid CopolymerIsostearyl Neopentanoate comes from Isostearyl Alcohol and neopentanoic acid.
It is an emollient, meaning it helps moisturize the skin.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
