What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentaerythritol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientMannose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantNigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingBenzoic Acid
MaskingOriganum Majorana Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCoumarin
PerfumingSorbic Acid
PreservativeLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Pentaerythritol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Mannose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Parfum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Benzoic Acid, Origanum Majorana Leaf Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Coumarin, Sorbic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Tocopherol, CI 19140, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningLaureth-9
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDextran
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Glycine Soja Sterols, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-1, Laureth-9, Citric Acid, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol
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 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 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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 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 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