What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTapioca Starch
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRetinyl Propionate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingRetinol
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantAmmonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantC13-14 Alkane
SolventDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethylparaben
PreservativeWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Retinyl Propionate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Retinol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Titanium Dioxide, C13-14 Alkane, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrated Silica
AbrasiveHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Retinyl Palmitate, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sorbitan Laurate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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