What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingIsododecane
EmollientAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantUrea
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMaltose
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecanol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isododecane, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fructose, Urea, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethyl Hexanediol, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Maltose, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Trehalose, Allantoin, Glucose, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveMagnesium Sulfate
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningKojic Acid
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPolyurethane-100
Isostearic Acid
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMica
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingQuaternium-90 Bentonite
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Olivate, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, C15-19 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triheptanoin, Silica, Magnesium Sulfate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lecithin, Caffeine, Kojic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Polyurethane-100, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Mica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Propylene Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideCi 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.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Once applied, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDSG is used as a surfactant.
Surfactants are cleansing ingredients that help remove oil, dirt, and other impurities from the skin. They work by reducing surface tension between water and oils/dirt to allow them to be easily rinsed away.
Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
This ingredient is an emulsifier. It is created from Polyglycerin-3 and Ricinoleic Acid.
As an emulsifier, it prevents waters and oils from separating. According to a manufacturer this ingredient is fully biodegradable.
This ingredient may not be safe for Malassezia folliculitis due to its Ricinoleic Acid base. Ricinoleic Acid is a fatty acid derived from castor oil.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 PolyricinoleatePolyhydroxystearic Acid is a soft wax made from castor oil.
It is is a texture thickener, emulsifier, and film-former. Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer and cleaning agent. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, Sorbitan Isostearate prevents oils and water from separating.
Due to its isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateWater. 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