What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyethylene
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDimethiconol
EmollientLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dimethiconol, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides, Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDi-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristyl Myristate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
AbrasiveSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Steareth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingJojoba Esters
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Propanediol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Caffeine, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Disodium EDTA, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Steareth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Biotin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Jojoba Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 DimethiconeDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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.
Tocopheryl 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