What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Glycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingIsohexadecane
EmollientIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantInositol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
PEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Isopropyl Isostearate, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Copper Gluconate, BHT, Inositol, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Caramel
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCeteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingDicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingTriethylene Glycol
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
PreservativeButylparaben
MaskingEthylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Arbutin, Titanium Dioxide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Sodium Citrate, Cetyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Allantoin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Stearic Acid, Triethylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Papain, BHT, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 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 plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin 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 GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePanthenol 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.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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