What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRetinol
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Propionate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantDimethiconol
EmollientLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantC13-14 Alkane
SolventSodium Sulfite
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Distarch Phosphate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Retinol, Retinyl Propionate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Carnosine, Hydroxyacetophenone, BHT, Dimethiconol, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Titanium Dioxide, C13-14 Alkane, Sodium Sulfite, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingPEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
StabilisingPvp
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning1,5-Pentanediol
SolventSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSoluble Collagen
HumectantParfum
MaskingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingWater, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, C12-14 Pareth-12, PEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pvp, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Fructose, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Phosphatidylcholine, Phytosterols, Ceramide NP, Arginine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, 1,5-Pentanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Soluble Collagen, Parfum, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Oleate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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.
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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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