What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polymethyl Acrylate
Methyl Methacrylate
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cera Alba
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Escin
TonicPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Rhamnose
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethyl Acrylate, Methyl Methacrylate, PEG-40 Stearate, Cera Alba, Beeswax, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Tristearate, Triethanolamine, Caffeine, Methylparaben, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Myristyl Alcohol, Escin, Palmitic Acid, Rhamnose, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Poloxamer 338, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Propionate
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Swertia Chirata Leaf Extract
AstringentUrea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Glycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
PEG-8
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Retinyl Propionate, Retinol, Swertia Chirata Leaf Extract, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Pvp, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, PEG-8, Carbomer, Sodium Bisulfite, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 77891, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 14700, CI 19140
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
