What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientCanola Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCalcium Pantothenate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentSilica
AbrasiveCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Octyldodecanol, Canola Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Maltodextrin, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Methylparaben, Parfum, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-20 Stearate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMethylparaben
PreservativeCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-20 Stearate, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Retinyl Palmitate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Methylparaben, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Propylene 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 GlycolThis long ingredient is a copolymer of sodium acrylate and sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate monomers.
It is used to help stabilize other ingredients and create a thicker gel-like texture.
Emulsifiers prevent oils and waters from separating.
Learn more about Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerWater. 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