What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclomethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSilica Silylate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf Extract
AstringentZinc PCA
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Betaine, Caprylyl Methicone, Laminaria Digitata Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Squalane, Panthenol, Silica Silylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Trideceth-6, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf Extract, Zinc PCA, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCeteareth-29
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCeramides
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclomethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Ceteareth-29, Propylene Glycol, Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Carbomer, Cyclomethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclomethicone is a class of silicones used to improve the texture of products.
Their cyclic or circular structure decreases stability. This causes quick evaporation when applied to skin. Cyclomethicones are often used as a carrier for other ingredients. Once it evaporates, it leaves a silky barrier on the skin.
The most popular types of cyclomethicones include D5 and D6.
Learn more about CyclomethiconeDisodium 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 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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