What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingRetinal
Skin ConditioningOleyl Adapalenate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantAlbatrellus Confluens Extract
HumectantPunica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyapatite
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Glyceryl Ether
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingNaringin
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Retinal, Oleyl Adapalenate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyapatite, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Glyceryl Ether, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Hydroxystearic Acid, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Oleate, Naringin, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHexyldecanol
EmollientDisiloxane
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningPPG-24-Glycereth-24
EmulsifyingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantHoney Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Benzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Triheptanoin, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hexyldecanol, Disiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Diheptyl Succinate, Propylene Carbonate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Phenyl Trimethicone, Retinol, Ubiquinone, Honey Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Algae Extract, Zingiber Officinale Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phospholipids, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Polysilicone-11, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Stearic Acid, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Pvp, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
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