What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Styrene/Methylstyrene/Indene Copolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Isopentyldiol, Caprylyl Methicone, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Silica, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Propanediol, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Styrene/Methylstyrene/Indene Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sorbitol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingQuaternium-90 Bentonite
Aroma
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Quartz
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Methicone, Isoamyl Laurate, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Mica, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Sodium Chloride, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Aroma, Jojoba Esters, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Gluconate, Hexylene Glycol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Quartz, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCaprylyl Methicone is a synthetic and lightweight silicone fluid. It gives products a silky, dry-touch finish without the heaviness of pure oils.
Though the EU CosIng Database lists this ingredient as a skin conditioner, it is also used for sensory reasons. It spreads easily, cuts greasiness, and reduces tackiness.
This ingredient is volatile which means it will mostly evaporate (but it evaporates slower than older cyclomethicones, like Cyclotetrasiloxane).
Typical concentration ranges from 1-30% depending on if it's being used to tweak the feel of a product or acting as the main emollient.
Learn more about Caprylyl MethiconeDimethicone 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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecanePhenoxyethanol 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.
This ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateWe don't have a description for Quaternium-90 Bentonite yet.
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 SilicaThis ingredient is a preservative with antimicrobial properties. It is the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid.
It is especially effective at preventing bacterial and fungal growth in low concentrations.
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
