What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Oleate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBorago Officinalis Extract
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientLanolin
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
AntioxidantPalmitic Acid
EmollientThioctic Acid
AntioxidantPhytic Acid
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan
Lactic Acid
BufferingSerine
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingSorbitol
HumectantUrea
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBenzoic Acid
MaskingImidazolidinyl Urea
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Decyl Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C12-16 Alcohols, Glycerin, Borago Officinalis Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cyclomethicone, Lanolin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phospholipids, Ubiquinone, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Palmitic Acid, Thioctic Acid, Phytic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Urea, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-1, Allantoin, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Alcohol Denat., Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 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 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 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