What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polysilicone-11
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNannochloropsis Oceanica Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Menthyl Lactate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Nannochloropsis Oceanica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phospholipids, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Decyl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sphingolipids, Bacillus Ferment, Sodium Citrate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, CI 42090, CI 19140, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharomyces Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Disodium Succinate
MaskingThreonine
Glycine
Buffering
Valine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Acetate
Emollient
Water, Polysilicone-11, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Steareth-21, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Laureth-12, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Saccharomyces Lysate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Disodium Succinate, Threonine, Glycine, Valine, Glutamic Acid, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides, Citric Acid, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Acetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Polysilicone-11 is a film-forming silicone that creates a non-tacky and matte finish on the skin. It's commonly used to improve texture, absorb excess oil, and help active ingredients spread evenly.
Due to its "rubber-like" structure, it stays on the skin's surface instead of being absorbed. On the skin, it creates a flexible layer that enhances wearability and stability.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolThis ingredient is a synthetic, salt form polymer built from acrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, or their simple esters. It works as a binder, film former, and viscosity increasing agent.
Typical concentrations start at around 0.5% but can go up to 25% for film-forming or binding.
The CIR Expert Panel assessed the safety of 126 acrylates copolymers and concluded they are safe in cosmetics at current use levels when formulated to be non-irritating. They also noted the levels present in finished cosmetic products are not considered a safety risk and Genotoxicity testing (Ames tests, chromosomal aberration assays) has come back negative across the board.
Though the raw building blocks (like acrylic acid) can be irritating on their own, cosmetic-grade versions go through purification to keep levels extremely low.
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer is a large molecule that doesn't penetrate skin barrier in any meaningful way.
Learn more about Sodium Acrylates CopolymerWater. 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
