What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingLecithin
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialStearic Acid
CleansingParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Squalane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Steareth-21, Cetyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caffeine, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPhenethyl Benzoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativePelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingLecithin
EmollientMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentHaslea Ostrearia Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingPeucedanum Ostruthium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBuddleja Davidii Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Umbelliformis Extract
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Glycereth-26, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Lecithin, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Haslea Ostrearia Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Glycerin, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Peucedanum Ostruthium Leaf Extract, Buddleja Davidii Leaf Extract, Artemisia Umbelliformis Extract
Reviews
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 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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl 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