What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Escin
TonicAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Trihydroxystearin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Glycerin, Escin, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Centella Asiatica Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Citrate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glucomannan, CI 77891
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenyl Methicone
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Hexapeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Ethyl Linolenate
Emollient
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Water, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Methicone, Polyethylene, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ubiquinone, Hexapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Bisabolol, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Phytosphingosine, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Linolenate, Ethyl Oleate, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl 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 AcetateWater. 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
