What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientUndecane
EmollientTridecane
PerfumingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMagnesium Sulfate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlucosamine Hcl
Tribehenin
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
CleansingSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Cera Microcristallina, Dimethicone, Undecane, Tridecane, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Silica, Alcohol Denat., Tocopheryl Acetate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Magnesium Sulfate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glucosamine Hcl, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Faex Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Silybum Marianum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientC30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Sodium Benzoate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Citric Acid, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 DimethiconeEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin (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 GlycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfatePEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone is a modified version of dimethicone with emulsifying properties. It helps add a silky and lightweight feel to products like sunscreens and foundations.
Its unique structure allows it to bridge the gap between water-loving and oil-loving ingredients. This makes it especially good at creating stable, velvety, and elegant formulations.
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.
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