What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hexyldecyl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Nylon-12
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexyldecyl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Niacinamide, Nylon-12, Hexylresorcinol, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Stearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Panthenol, Sorbitan Oleate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sorbitan Laurate, Polysorbate 20, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lactate, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
