What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningIndigofera Tinctoria Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolygonum Tinctorium Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSucrose Stearate
EmollientSucrose Palmitate
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSargassum Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantHydrolyzed Lagenaria Siceraria Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningSalvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Diglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Glycerin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Diisostearyl Malate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Propanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Indigofera Tinctoria Leaf Extract, Ceramide Ng, Palmitic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polygonum Tinctorium Leaf/Stem Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Sucrose Stearate, Sucrose Palmitate, Maltodextrin, Sargassum Vulgare Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Lagenaria Siceraria Fruit Juice, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Tocopherol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosterols, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBis-Stearyl Dimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHexyldecanol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMel
EmollientTetrapeptide-14
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantCucumis Sativus Seed Oil
EmollientHydroxyectoin
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Hexyldecanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Mel, Tetrapeptide-14, Ceramide EOP, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Ectoin, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Bisabolol, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Hydroxyectoin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Aminomethyl Propanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-40 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Isohexadecane, Polysilicone-11, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol 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