What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Tribehenin
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Methylpropanediol
SolventAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Methyl Trimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Silica, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Chloride, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tribehenin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Methylpropanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hexylene Glycol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Dodecane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Dimethicone Ethoxy Glucoside
Emulsifying
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Lysine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Dodecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Propanediol, Caprylyl Dimethicone Ethoxy Glucoside, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Lysine, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTADisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Polydecene is an emollient. It creates a non-occlusive film on the skin that offers extra protection for your skin barrier.
The texture of Hydrogenated Polydecene ranges from light and silky to rich.
Hydrogenated Polydecene is the end compound of controlled hydrogenation of Polydecene.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydecenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s 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 PropanediolChances 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 ChlorideSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
