What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Anhydroxylitol
HumectantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Hexylresorcinol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSwertia Chirata Leaf Extract
AstringentRetinol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAllyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Behenate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Swertia Chirata Leaf Extract, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Stearyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isododecane, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Laureth-7, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic 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 DimethiconeDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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