What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantEscin
TonicAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantGlucomannan
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
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIsododecane
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDimethiconol
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingParfum
MaskingPropylene Carbonate
SolventTin Oxide
AbrasiveArtemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantColloidal Gold
AntimicrobialGlutathione
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Isododecane, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Dimethiconol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Parfum, Propylene Carbonate, Tin Oxide, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Sorbitol, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Colloidal Gold, Glutathione, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 DimethiconeCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (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.
Water. 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