What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberHyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLecithin
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantOxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract
MoisturisingVaccinium Corymbosum Seed
AbrasiveVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantC9-12 Alkane
SolventHydrogen Dimethicone
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Benzophenone-3, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Xylitol, Glucose, Sodium Levulinate, Phospholipids, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Anhydroxylitol, Oxothiazolidine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract, Vaccinium Corymbosum Seed, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Zinc Oxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Ascorbic Acid, C9-12 Alkane, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetula Alba Juice
AstringentWater, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Betula Alba Juice
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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