What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dibutyl Adipate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Cetyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium EDTA, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tapioca Starch
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Myristyl Myristate, Stearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Decylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateThis silica is mainly used to thicken oils and suspend particles in oils. It is not water soluble.
According to the manufacturer, it:
The manufacturer also claims this ingredient to be useful in makeup.
In lipstick formulations, this ingredient improves color payoff, reduces pigment settling, and reduces oil bleeding. This ingredient also improves the grip of powder products such as dry shampoos.
Learn more about Silica Dimethyl SilylateSodium 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 HydroxideTrisodium EDTA is one of those quietly essential helper ingredients that most people have never heard of. You'll most likely spot it near the end of ingredient lists in almost every category of skincare.
So what does it actually do?
Its main job is chelation; this is a fancy word to say it grabs onto metal ions and neutralizes them. This is because even purified water in cosmetics contains trace amounts of metals that can cause big problems in a formula.
These trace metals can break down actives faster, cause discoloration, promote rancidity in oils, and make preservatives less effective. Trisodium EDTA binds to these metals and takes them out of the equation so your products can stay stable and effective for longer.
There's also an added bonus: by neutralizing the metals ions that bacteria need to thrive, this ingredient also acts as a preservative booster.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetic formulations. It is not considered an irritant, sensitizer, and is barely absorbed through the skin.
Learn more about Trisodium EDTAWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
