What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingDimethiconol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin ConditioningPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLinoleic Acid
CleansingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Dimethiconol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, PEG-150 Distearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linoleic Acid, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSilica
AbrasiveEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentTriethanolamine
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterNylon-12
Propylene Glycol
HumectantSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPalmitic Acid
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSilica Silylate
EmollientDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Titanium Dioxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Silica, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Pentylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Nylon-12, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Wax, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Silica Silylate, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Poloxamer 338, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Myristic Acid, Sodium Chloride, BHT, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Pentylene 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 GlycolTocopherol 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