What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalane, Phospholipids, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Oil, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone, Sodium Phytate, Glycolipids, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Soja Sterols, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Amodimethicone
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningKefiran
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentParfum
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Amodimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Kefiran, Lactobacillus, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Parfum, Phytosphingosine, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Saccharide Isomerate, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone 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 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 HydroxideWater. 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