What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningHexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Stearyl/PPG-3 Myristyl Ether Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, PEG-8, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Hexylresorcinol, Stearyl/PPG-3 Myristyl Ether Dimer Dilinoleate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arbutin, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Ergothioneine, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Propyl Gallate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Matrixyl 3000
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Undecane
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Dioleate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTridecane
Perfuming
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glycine
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Hexapeptide-11, Matrixyl 3000, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triolein, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Oleate, Undecane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Dioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Tridecane, Betaine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Sodium Benzoate, Serine, Alanine, Palmitic Acid, Glycine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20
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 GlycolGlycerin (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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
