What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Isohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberLinoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingDimethiconol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Sodium PCA
HumectantC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialGlucose
HumectantPotassium Chloride
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Saccharide Isomerate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzophenone-4, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sodium PCA, C12-14 Pareth-12, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Glucose, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone
EmollientPPG-17-Buteth-17
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium Succinate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAgar
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Succinic Acid
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentGlucosyl Ceramide
Skin ConditioningAphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides
AbsorbentHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer
Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Triethylhexanoin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone, PPG-17-Buteth-17, Triethyl Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Disodium Succinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Agar, Disodium EDTA, Succinic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dextrin, Glucosyl Ceramide, Aphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDimethicone 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 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 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