What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
C20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sucrose Dilaurate
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Coconut Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Trehalose
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Silica, Triacontanyl Pvp, Glycerin, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, C20-22 Alcohols, Decyl Glucoside, Maltodextrin, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Coco-Glucoside, Sucrose Dilaurate, Benzoic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Coconut Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Tocopheryl Acetate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Trehalose, Propylene Glycol, Pisum Sativum Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Polyquaternium-51
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Avena Sativa Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAlanyl Glutamine
HumectantUncaria Tomentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningBatyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa Leaf/Stem Extract, Alanyl Glutamine, Uncaria Tomentosa Extract, Batyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethiconol, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidDimethicone 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 GlycerinPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
