What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeImidazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeGlycol
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCera Alba
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Glycol, Mica, Cera Alba, Caffeine, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAdipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPropanediol
SolventPolyurethane-35
Stearic Acid
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingAmodimethicone
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAlgin
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientHeptapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Tocopherol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Benzyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Polyurethane-35, Stearic Acid, PEG-75 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Vp/Va Copolymer, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Amodimethicone, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carnosine, Caffeine, Algin, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Heptapeptide-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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