What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Polyacrylamide
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Trehalose
Humectant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyacrylamide, Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Synthetic Beeswax, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trehalose, Dimethiconol, Chlorphenesin, Yeast Extract, Carbomer, Laureth-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, C12-14 Pareth-12
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 2.75%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Callus Culture Extract
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Rosa Moschata Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Diatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Ferric Hexapeptide-35
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTeprenone
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTbhq
Antioxidant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Octocrylene 2.75%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Zea Mays Oil, Polyester-8, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polysilicone-15, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, Vitis Vinifera Callus Culture Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Proline, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Niacinamide, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Diatomaceous Earth, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Ferric Hexapeptide-35, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Teprenone, Lecithin, Mica, Sorbitol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tbhq, Phenylpropanol, CI 77891
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 high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
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 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
