What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Isododecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBetaine
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Propylene Carbonate
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Isododecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Chloride, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, DMDM Hydantoin, Propylene Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Serine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Valine
MaskingSodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Simethicone
Emollient
Tetrasodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPropylene Carbonate
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chromium Oxide Greens
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Valine, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Zinc Stearate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Chromium Oxide Greens, CI 77007, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecanePhenoxyethanol 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 solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateChances 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 ChlorideTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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
