What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Propionate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Retinol, Retinyl Propionate, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethiconol, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Titanium Dioxide, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetyl Esters
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Extract
Astringent
Magnolia Biondii Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Steareth-20
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Benzoate
Preservative
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Magnesium Chloride
Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetyl Esters, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Hexyldecanol, Cetyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bisabolol, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Pisum Sativum Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Magnolia Biondii Flower Extract, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tripeptide-1, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-20, Stearic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Sorbitan Palmitate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Benzoate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Magnesium Chloride
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerDisodium 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 GlycerinIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (IPBC) is a preservative that is especially good at getting fungi and mold out of your cosmetics.
IPBC works by leveraging the antimicrobial properties of its iodine containing structure. Iodine has been used as a germicide since the late 1800s and IPBC is a more refined and stable derivative of it.
It is typically used at very low levels in cosmetics, with most formulations using 0.0125% or less (well below its approved maximum).
In the EU, IPBC concentration limits are set at 0.02% in rinse-off products and 0.01% in leave-on products.
Though IPBC is a relatively uncommon contact allergen, patch testing studies show positive reaction rates ranging from 0.3%-0.9% of patients tested. This is still quite low compared to preservatives like methylisothiazolinone which sits at around 4-5%.
Researchers note that existing iodine sensitives or rubber allergies may be the cause of this as IPBC shares a structure with both thiuram (used in rubber) and iodine.
Be sure to patch test if you are unsure and speak with a medical professional about using this ingredient.
Learn more about Iodopropynyl ButylcarbamateTocopheryl 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
