What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantRhamnose
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
PEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingCera Alba
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel FormingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientEscin
TonicPalmitic Acid
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Rhamnose, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, PEG-40 Stearate, Cera Alba, Pentylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Tristearate, Triethanolamine, Caffeine, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Myristyl Alcohol, Escin, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Poloxamer 338, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylpropanediol
SolventOctocrylene
UV AbsorberHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberUbiquinone
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCreatine
Skin Conditioning1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylpropanediol, Octocrylene, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Ubiquinone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Creatine, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Parfum, CI 16035
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.
Tocopheryl 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 Water