What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Isohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLinoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingParfum
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethiconol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium PCA
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingPEG-4 Dilaurate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingPEG-4
HumectantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingMethylparaben
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialGlucose
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Carbonate
BufferingCyclotetrasiloxane
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientArachidic Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Sulfate
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzophenone-4, Allantoin, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Parfum, Niacinamide, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Sodium PCA, BHT, Propanediol, C12-14 Pareth-12, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-4 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxystearic Acid, PEG-4, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzoic Acid, Methylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Glucose, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Carbonate, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Palmitic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
AstringentPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingInulin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingGlucose
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingAlcohol
Antimicrobial4-Terpineol
MaskingLecithin
EmollientIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingArbutin
AntioxidantBisabolol
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlutathione
Linolenic Acid
CleansingLinoleic Acid
CleansingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantWater, Polyacrylamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Ethylparaben, Parfum, Laureth-7, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Diazolidinyl Urea, Ethoxydiglycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Inulin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glucose, Lactic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Alcohol, 4-Terpineol, Lecithin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Arbutin, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glutathione, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Reviews
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 GlycolThis ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 DimethiconeGlucose is a simple sugar and is the most important source of energy in all organisms.
In skincare, glucose is used to hydrate the skin. It also acts as a prebiotic for our natural biome.
Glucose is hydrating due to its humectant property. As a humectant, glucose draws moisture from the air and from deeper levels in the skin.
Our skin contains many sugars that act as prebiotics and help strengthen our natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome helps protect our skin from harmful bacteria and other contaminants.
Studies show glucose may help with fading discoloration and pigmentation. This is because our skin metabolizes glucose into lactic acid. Lactic acid is an AHA that helps exfoliate the top layer of skin.
Learn more about GlucoseIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate is a preservative.
Methylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 HydroxideTocopheryl 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water