What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantUrea
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Urea, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Stearic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Squalane, Retinol, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Beta-Glucan, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 GlycerinStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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