What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Amodimethicone
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Acetyl Glucosamine, Propylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Hexylresorcinol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Parfum, Amodimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Mica, Titanium Dioxide
Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Colostrum
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Tromethamine
BufferingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Milk Protein, Water, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Sodium PCA, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Panthenol, Colostrum, Arbutin, Bisabolol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Carbomer, Behenyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Tranexamic Acid, Tromethamine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
