What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPolybutene
PEG-100 Stearate
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitol/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Behenate
Skin ConditioningDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientDisodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Dibehenate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTribehenin
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
C12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Methicone
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantFish Oil
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningWater, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Polybutene, PEG-100 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitol/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Behenate, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Disodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Glycerin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Tribehenin, Xanthan Gum, Dimethiconol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glyceryl Behenate, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methicone, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007, CI 75470, CI 77891, CI 77288, CI 42090, CI 19140, CI 16035, Mica, CI 77742, CI 77510, Fish Oil, Ceramide AP
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantStyrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPolybutene
PEG-100 Stearate
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitol/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Behenate
Skin ConditioningDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAspartic Acid
MaskingTribehenin
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientGlyceryl Dibehenate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientThreonine
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingArginine
MaskingSerine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Disodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCysteine
AntioxidantGlutamic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantC12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, CI 77499, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Polybutene, PEG-100 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitol/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Behenate, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aspartic Acid, Tribehenin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Threonine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Arginine, Serine, Proline, Alanine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Cysteine, Glutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer made from ammonium salts. It helps add stability and texture to a product. This ingredient is stable over a wide pH range.
Due to its ability to absorb water, it can help thicken the texture of a product. As an emulsion stabilizer, this ingredient is stabilizes other ingredients to create a consistent texture.
According to a manufacturer, it helps create a "smooth, light and fresh" texture.
Learn more about Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateBehenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterWe don't have a description for C12-13 Pareth-23 yet.
We don't have a description for C12-13 Pareth-3 yet.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 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.
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.
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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone used to improve the texture of products and absorb oil. It does not get absorbed into the skin.
Like other silicones, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer helps condition the skin by creating a barrier. In this sense, it can act as an emollient and trap moisture in.
This ingredient is a type of elastomer.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTADisodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate is a type of sulfate.
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer is a type of silicone.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Behenate is a fatty acid created from glycerin and behenic acid. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne safe.
Glyceryl Dibehenate isn't fungal acne safe.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateGlyceryl Stearate Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitratePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Polybutene is used to help control the viscosity of a product. This just means it helps adjusts the texture.
It is a polymer and does not get absorbed into the skin due to its large size.
Studies found this ingredient did not irritate skin in concentrations below 15%.
Learn more about PolybutenePotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateWe don't have a description for Sorbitol/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Behenate yet.
We don't have a description for Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer yet.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Tocopherol (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鈥檚 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 TocopherolTocopheryl 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 AcetateTribehenin comes from glycerin and behenic acid.
It is used as an emollient, or moisturizer. Emollients form a thin barrier on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about TribeheninWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum