What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Argilla
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Glaucine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Myristyl Myristate, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica Silylate, Pentylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Palmitic Acid, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Coco-Glucoside, Argilla, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, BHT, Sodium Citrate, Myristic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Glaucine, Citric Acid, Linalool, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Magnesium Chloride, Tocopherol, Propyl Gallate, Biotin, Ceramide AP
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Perlite
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Silica Silylate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Octyldodecanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Stearyl Alcohol, Perlite, Silica, Silica Silylate, PEG-100 Stearate, Poloxamer 338, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, CI 42090, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer made from ammonium salts. It works as a thickener, emulsifier, and texture enhancer that gives gel-creams a silky, lightweight feel.
This ingredient is versatile and low-maintenance so manufacturers love working with it.
Typical usage levels in cosmetics are usually low and in the range of 0.015 - 2.3%.
Learn more about Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateCapryloyl Glycine is created by adding an acyl group to glycine and caprylic acid chloride.
It is a cleanser due to its surfactant properties. Surfactants help dirt, oil, and other polluants be more easily rinsed away. According to manufacturers, Capryloyl Glycine also helps soften the skin and regulate sebum production.
Emerging studies show Capryloyl Glycine may inhibit hair growth. It may also cause allergies for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any questions about this ingredient.
Learn more about Capryloyl GlycineDimethicone 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneSilica Silylate is a siloxane polymer, meaning it is made up of silicon and oxygen atoms. It is not soluble in water.
This ingredient is a white powder with oil-absorbing, emollient, and anticaking properties.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
