What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Petrolatum
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methoxy PEG-22/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Polyphenols
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cera Microcristallina, Squalane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Jojoba Esters, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Propylene Glycol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Zinc Oxide, Dimethicone, Methoxy PEG-22/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol Denat., Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Caffeine, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzoic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Camellia Sinensis Polyphenols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone
Emollient
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycerin
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Glycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Water
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 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 GlycerinTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
