What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Didecene
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Soybean Glycerides
EmollientHydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Didecene, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isoamyl Laurate, Squalane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Soybean Glycerides, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77163, CI 42090, CI 77289, CI 77288, CI 77510, CI 77742, CI 15850, CI 45410, CI 73360, CI 77007, CI 19140, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
C9-11 Pareth-6
EmulsifyingQuartz
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Powder
Skin ConditioningSyzygium Luehmannii Fruit Powder
Antioxidant
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, C9-11 Pareth-6, Quartz, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Powder, Syzygium Luehmannii Fruit Powder, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disodium 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 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.
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 HyaluronateTocopheryl 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
