What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Water, 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 ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Alumina
Abrasive
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Limonene
Perfuming
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningCitral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Geraniol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Myristyl Nicotinate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, CI 77891, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Carnosine, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzophenone-4, Sodium Lactate, Glycine Soja Oil, Alumina, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Sodium PCA, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Limonene, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Pantolactone, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Silica, Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract, Linalool, Plankton Extract, Citral, Citronellol, Tocopherol, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCaprylyl 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 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.
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneWater. 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
