What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPolyethylene
Abrasive
Talc
Abrasive
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantMethylparaben
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylparaben
Preservative
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Cyclomethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Arbutin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, CI 77492, Polyethylene, Talc, Phenyl Trimethicone, Beeswax, Sodium Chloride, CI 77491, CI 77499, Methylparaben, Dimethicone, Propylparaben, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Algae Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Ceramide NP, Parfum, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C18-21 Alkane
SolventCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer Ethylcarbamate
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Hexyl Laurate, Pentylene Glycol, C18-21 Alkane, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica, Microcrystalline Wax, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer Ethylcarbamate, Medicago Sativa Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Isostearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Mica, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeCi 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.
Dimethicone 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 GlycerinSodium 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 Water
