What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantGlycereth-26
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantLitchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive
PEG-100 Stearate
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Trideceth-10
CleansingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Cetearyl Olivate
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Carica Papaya Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Methyl Trimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mica, Glycereth-26, CI 77891, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Tin Oxide, PEG-100 Stearate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glucose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Glyceryl Stearate, Trideceth-10, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Cetearyl Olivate, Isohexadecane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Silica, Carica Papaya Fruit Water, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, Parfum
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 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
