What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Rosa Rugosa Flower Water
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
C11-13 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingSilica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Aroma
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Rosa Rugosa Flower Water, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Octocrylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, C11-13 Isoparaffin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Aroma
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPolyacrylamide
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Polyacrylamide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Allantoin, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caffeine, Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTAPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
