What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantErythritol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract
AntimicrobialTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningC20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Erythritol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, C20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Carnosine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentSilica
AbrasiveHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-20 Stearate
EmulsifyingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientArginine PCA
HumectantSerine
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclohexasiloxane, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Isohexadecane, Zea Mays Starch, Silica, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-20 Stearate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Arginine PCA, Serine, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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