What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polysorbate 20, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Mel
EmollientRoyal Jelly
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
PEG-8
HumectantCalcium Alginate
MaskingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Gellan Gum
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentTromethamine
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Mel, Royal Jelly, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Methyl Gluceth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, PEG-8, Calcium Alginate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Gellan Gum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, CI 77891, Adenosine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Tromethamine, Limonene, Sodium Lactate, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 77491, Sodium Metabisulfite, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, BHT, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Polysorbate 60, Linalool, CI 19140, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Tocopherol, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This is a lightweight diester (caprylic/capric acid + butylene glycol) with emollient and skin conditioning properties.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient can help add a "cushiony" oil phase without making it heavy.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer made by combining glycerin with polymethacrylic acid.
It is a non-drying, non-greasy moisturizer that helps enhance the feel and slip of formulations, helps stabilize emulsions, creates a film, and controls viscosity.
As a film former, it creates a light and flexible layer on the skin's surface. This helps lock in moisture without feeling heavy.
It's typically used at concentrations up to 1.9% in leave-on products. CIR has concluded that these ingredients are safe in cosmetics at current use levels.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't readily penetrate into skin and mostly just sits on the surface. A large UK-based patch test study of over 1,300 patients found that sensitization to related acrylate copolymers is rare.
Learn more about Glyceryl PolymethacrylatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTocopheryl 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 AcetateTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
