What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Parfum
MaskingSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialLaureth-3
EmulsifyingLaureth-23
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingC12-15 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol
Skin ConditioningFumaric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantGlycine
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantMilk Protein Extract
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingCeratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSoy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningOat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Myristyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Parfum, Steartrimonium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Laureth-3, Laureth-23, Polyquaternium-7, Panthenol, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, C12-15 Pareth-3, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Collagen Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Fumaric Acid, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Glycine, Isopropyl Alcohol, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Silk, Milk Protein Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Propanediol, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Soy Amino Acids, Wheat Amino Acids, Rice Amino Acids, Oat Amino Acids
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientSteartrimonium Bromide
PreservativeAmodimethicone
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAminopropyl Dimethicone
Butylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC12-14 Sec-Pareth-7
EmulsifyingCocamide
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingBetaine
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialEthyl Ester Of Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientChitosan
Hydrolyzed Chitosan
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantZein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantIris Ensata Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Peel Extract
AntioxidantMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Dimethicone, Steartrimonium Bromide, Amodimethicone, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Behentrimonium Chloride, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycerin, C12-14 Sec-Pareth-7, Cocamide, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Lactic Acid, Betaine, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-14m, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Alcohol Denat., Ethyl Ester Of Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Chitosan, Hydrolyzed Chitosan, Dipropylene Glycol, Zein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Trehalose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Iris Ensata Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Yeast, Pyrus Malus Peel Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Collagen is Collagen (usually sourced from fish, bovine, or porcine byproducts) that's been broken down into smaller peptides. This makes it water-soluble and easy to blend into formulations.
In a formula, it works mainly as a skin-conditioning and moisturizing agent.
The small peptides and amino acids (including Natural Moisturizing Factor components like Hydroxyproline, Serine, and Aspartic Acid) help the surface of the skin hold onto water, feel softer, and look temporarily plumper.
This ingredient also has mild film-forming and antioxidant properties with research showing the antioxidant effect is stronger the lower the molecular weight of the peptides.
It's worth being realistic here:
Topically applied Hydrolyzed Collagen conditions the upper layers of skin rather than rebuilding the structural collagen deep in your dermis (the wrinkle-and-firmness benefits people associate with Collagen mostly come from oral supplements in studies, not topicals).
However, recent lab and skin-model work on Hydrolyzed Fish Collagen has shown promising effects on cell viability and wound healing when used as an active.
Typical concentrations range from 0.2-2%, but the percentage can go much higher in rinse-off or hair products (sometimes even above 50%).
Clinical studies on this ingredient showed no irritation, sensitization, or phototoxicity.
If you are looking for vegan collagen, it usually goes by a different INCI name like hydrolyzed soy protein. Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenHydrolyzed Keratin is derived from keratin. Keratin is a large protein that is naturally found in our hair and skin.
Studies show keratin is able to seal broken hair cuticles, helping to prevent split ends and breakage.
As a humectant, hydrolyzed keratin helps draw moisture from the air to your hair and skin. This helps keep your skin and hair hydrated.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed KeratinYou can find hydrolyzed silk in both haircare and skincare products. According to a manufacturer, it can help improve skin and hair hydration.
This ingredient is created by adding acid or enzymes to 'hydrolyze' silk protein.
Due to the origins of this ingredient, it is not vegan. Silk is an animal product from silkworms.
Depending on the source, this ingredient can be considered cruelty-free. It is created from left-over cocoons of silkworms. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about where their hydrolyzed silk comes from.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed SilkIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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 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