What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningNylon-12
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPropylene Carbonate
SolventDisodium EDTA
Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingIsobutane
Ceramide EOP
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Cholesterol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ceramide NP, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Polyacrylate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Disodium EDTA, Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer, Adenosine, Dipropylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, T-Butyl Alcohol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Sodium Citrate, Linalool, Isobutane, Ceramide EOP, BHT, Tocopherol, Limonene, Ceramide AP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Palmitate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeteth-20
CleansingTriethanolamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSteareth-20
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Myristic Acid
CleansingBetaine
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingGlucose
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentBetula Alba Leaf Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCinnamal
PerfumingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitol, CI 77163, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, PEG-75 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ceteth-20, Triethanolamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Steareth-20, Disodium EDTA, Myristic Acid, Betaine, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Glucose, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Zinc Sulfate, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Betula Alba Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Cinnamal, Pyridoxine Hcl
Reviews
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 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.
Tocopherol 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 Water