What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningDextran
Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Dextran, Tripeptide-1, Oryza Sativa Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingVaccinium Corymbosum Seed
AbrasiveVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract
MoisturisingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantC9-12 Alkane
SolventHydrogen Dimethicone
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Benzophenone-3, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lecithin, Sodium Levulinate, Xylitol, Glucose, Propylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Anhydroxylitol, Glyceryl Stearate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oxothiazolidine, Vaccinium Corymbosum Seed, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Zinc Oxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Ceramide AP, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, C9-12 Alkane, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APDimethicone 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 GlycerinLecithin 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.
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.
This ingredient is a synthetic, salt form polymer built from acrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, or their simple esters. It works as a binder, film former, and viscosity increasing agent.
Typical concentrations start at around 0.5% but can go up to 25% for film-forming or binding.
The CIR Expert Panel assessed the safety of 126 acrylates copolymers and concluded they are safe in cosmetics at current use levels when formulated to be non-irritating. They also noted the levels present in finished cosmetic products are not considered a safety risk and Genotoxicity testing (Ames tests, chromosomal aberration assays) has come back negative across the board.
Though the raw building blocks (like acrylic acid) can be irritating on their own, cosmetic-grade versions go through purification to keep levels extremely low.
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer is a large molecule that doesn't penetrate skin barrier in any meaningful way.
Learn more about Sodium Acrylates CopolymerTocopheryl 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