What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal
PerfumingCyclamen Aldehyde
MaskingCitronellyl Acetate
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingEthyl Linalool
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIsobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGamma-Undecalactone
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingSilica
AbrasiveIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingMethyl Aminomethylcyclohexane Carboxamide Hcl
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal, Cyclamen Aldehyde, Citronellyl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethyl Linalool, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Gamma-Undecalactone, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, CI 14700, CI 47005, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Silica, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Methyl Aminomethylcyclohexane Carboxamide Hcl, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantIsostearyl Neopentanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSilica Silylate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantCitral
PerfumingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Geraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePoloxamer 184
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Silica Silylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Capryloyl Glycine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 42090, CI 60730, CI 60725, Citral, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Poloxamer 184, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 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 DimethiconeDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
Disodium 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.
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