What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberSilica
AbrasiveGlycol Stearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCystine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeCyclomethicone
EmollientPropylparaben
PreservativeCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantStearamide Amp
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingPalmitic Acid
EmollientArachidic Acid
CleansingWater, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Silica, Glycol Stearate, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cystine, Glycine, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Cyclomethicone, Propylparaben, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Stearamide Amp, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Palmitic Acid, Arachidic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsostearic Acid
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Silica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventDidecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-80
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentWater, Zinc Oxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Silica, Glycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-80, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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