What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Propylene Carbonate
SolventLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Galactoarabinan
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Cleansing
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Propylene Carbonate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Silica, Galactoarabinan, Glycerin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Mica, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides, CI 15850, CI 42090, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aroma
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Silica Silylate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aroma, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Trideceth-6, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
