What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPolybutene
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMagnesium Sulfate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSilica Silylate
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParaffin
PerfumingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyethylene
AbrasiveCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveKaolin
AbrasivePalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Cera Microcristallina, Caffeine, Polybutene, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Magnesium Sulfate, Butylene Glycol, Silica Silylate, Chlorphenesin, Paraffin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyethylene, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Kaolin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77288, CI 77007
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlcohol
AntimicrobialTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Glycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveBHT
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantSodium Ascorbate
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane, Water, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, BHT, Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Lecithin, Sorbitol, Sodium Ascorbate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, 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.
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 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 77891Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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