What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentCyclomethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Silica
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Sh-Decapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Surfactant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingResveratrol
Antioxidant
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningAlgin
Masking
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Betula Alba Juice, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Silica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Sh-Decapeptide-9, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Resveratrol, Xanthophylls, Algin, Polyglutamic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isohexadecane
EmollientBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Tetrasodium EDTA
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, Boron Nitride, Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Ethylparaben, Polysorbate 20, Silica, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrapeptide-21, Tocopherol
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSilica, 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 Silica
