What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Pullulan
Maris Aqua
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDextrin
AbsorbentPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
Tonic1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSteareth-20
CleansingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Myristyl Nicotinate, Dimethicone, Pullulan, Maris Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dextrin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Dipeptide-2, Caffeine, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phospholipids, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Bacillus Ferment, Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Steareth-20, Adenosine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Mica, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Pandanus Conoideus Fruit Oil
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCellulose
Absorbent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Isododecane, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyclodextrin, Phytosterols, Phenoxyethanol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Pandanus Conoideus Fruit Oil, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cellulose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinal, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Sodium Polyaspartate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Trihydroxystearin
Reviews
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 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 CopolymerSodium 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 (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
