What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Squalane
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientPolyethylene
AbrasiveSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveWater
Skin ConditioningPolymethyl Methacrylate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCitrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingProline
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPolyglycerin-3
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Phytate
Sodium PCA
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSqualane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyethylene, Synthetic Wax, Water, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Jojoba Esters, Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus Ferment, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Lactic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Proline, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rice Amino Acids, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Inulin, Caffeine, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Maltodextrin, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Lactate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Phytate, Sodium PCA, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-5 Caprylyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningStearyl Dimethicone
EmollientBis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientMannitol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PPG-5 Caprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Methyl Trimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearyl Dimethicone, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dextrin, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Parfum, Beta-Glucan, Cholesterol, Mannitol, Tocopherol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopherol 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