What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialBambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
AbrasiveHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Niacinamide
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyurethane-35
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTocopherol
AntioxidantZinc PCA
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMethylpropanediol
SolventSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSyringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
MaskingWater, Alcohol, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Heptyl Undecylenate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Silica, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Polyurethane-35, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Tocopherol, Zinc PCA, Maltodextrin, Methylpropanediol, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Syringa Vulgaris Extract, Phenylpropanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingEuphrasia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentTriethanolamine
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingBisabolol
AntioxidantMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPrimula Veris Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantVeronica Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Stearate, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Benzyl Alcohol, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Triethanolamine, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol Denat., Tocopherol, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Bisabolol, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Phospholipids, Primula Veris Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Veronica Officinalis Extract, CI 77891, Mica, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Chlorphenesin
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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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