What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Steareth-20
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
S-Palmitoylglutathione
Antioxidant
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCryptomeria Japonica Bud Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Diheptyl Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-20, Butylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, S-Palmitoylglutathione, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Cryptomeria Japonica Bud Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, CI 77491, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Terminalia Arjuna Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingLecithin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Water, Glycerin, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycol Distearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Oleic Acid, Terminalia Arjuna Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chrysin, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Titanium Dioxide, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Steareth-20, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSteareth-20 is an emulsifier and solubilizer. It is created from stearyl alcohol with ~20 units of ethylene oxide to give it a strong preference for water.
As an emulsifier, it helps oil-in-water emulsions like lotions, creams, and cleansers stay stable. It also solubilizes small amounts of oil-loving ingredients (like fragrance) into water-based formulas.
You'll likely find this ingredient with steareth-2 (it's oil-loving sister) where the two work together to give products a cushiony feel.
Typical use levels sit at around 1-5% and this ingredient has been found to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel.
Learn more about Steareth-20Water. 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
