What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Bis-Hydroxylauryl Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer
Humectant
Butyl Acrylate/Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Acrylate Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Isohexadecane
EmollientDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Silica
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventC30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methyl Trimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Glycerin, Bis-Hydroxylauryl Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer, Butyl Acrylate/Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Acrylate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Zinc Gluconate, Boron Nitride, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Alcohol Denat., Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Isohexadecane, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zinc Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Propylene Carbonate, C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Allantoin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica Silylate, Saccharide Isomerate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, BHT, Tocopherol, Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 77007
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
