What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientMethyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane
Glycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingCholesteryl Hydroxystearate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantSerine
MaskingAcetyl Hydroxyproline
EmollientPolyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentasodium Ethylenediamine Tetramethylene Phosphonate
Stearic Acid
CleansingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBatyl Alcohol
EmollientHinokitiol
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeStearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Squalane, Methyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate, Tocopherol, Ubiquinone, Serine, Acetyl Hydroxyproline, Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Pentasodium Ethylenediamine Tetramethylene Phosphonate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Batyl Alcohol, Hinokitiol, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
CleansingSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantSh-Polypeptide-22
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
MaskingSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Oleate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Ubiquinone, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Bisabolol, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
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.
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 is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolUbiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about UbiquinoneWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water