What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Propionate
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningSwertia Chirata Leaf Extract
AstringentUrea
BufferingYeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingBetaine
HumectantFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientLecithin
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
PEG-8
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Bisulfite
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Retinyl Propionate, Retinol, Swertia Chirata Leaf Extract, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Pvp, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, PEG-8, Carbomer, Sodium Bisulfite, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 77891, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 14700, CI 19140
Glyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Distearate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventMica
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Synthetic Beeswax, Squalane, Diisostearyl Malate, Jojoba Esters, C10-18 Triglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Silica, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Glyceryl Distearate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Mica
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethyl Isosorbide (often shortened to DMI) is a sugar-derived solvent made from sorbitol. It's used to dissolve tricky ingredients and help them mix smoothly into a formula.
Many actives sit as gritty crystals when undissolved, so DMI swoops in to full dissolve them. This helps improve texture, stability, and how evenly an active is distributed.
It does have a penetration-enhancing reputation that is a bit more nuanced than marketing suggests; a cell study on human skin found that 10% DMI didn't significantly boost the permeation of Hydroquinone, Salicylic Acid, or Octadecenedioic Acid compared to controls (though it did improve their solubility in the formula itself).
Typical usage concentrations usually range from 1-10% depending on the formula's needs; this ingredient is also well tolerated at these levels.
Learn more about Dimethyl IsosorbideSilica, 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