What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Xylitol
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Algin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Trehalose, Urea, Xylitol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 80, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Sorbitan Oleate, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBeheneth-25
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Raspberry Seed Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Borage Seed Oil Aminopropanediol Amides
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, C13-15 Alkane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Beheneth-25, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Raspberry Seed Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Sodium Hydroxide, Asiaticoside, Phytosphingosine, Borage Seed Oil Aminopropanediol Amides, Citric Acid
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 GlycerinIsononyl Isononanoate is a synthetic skin-conditioner and texture enhancer. It is created from nonanoic acid, a fatty acid found in cocoa and lavender oil.
As an emollient, Isononyl Isononanoate helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is because emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Isononyl Isononanoate helps give products a velvet feel and improves spreadability.
Learn more about Isononyl IsononanoateThis ingredient is more commonly known as IPMP or Isopropyl Methylphenol. It is a preservative and has antimicrobial properties.
According to the EPA, this ingredient is allowed for use in cleansers, creams, powders, bath products, toothpaste, perfume, and more.
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
