What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
PEG-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingPanthenyl Triacetate
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Hydrolyzed Sericin
Skin ConditioningEthyl Linoleate
Emollient
Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningAngelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
Emollient
Oleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, PEG-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Phosphate, Panthenyl Triacetate, Phospholipids, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrolyzed Sericin, Ethyl Linoleate, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Acetyl Tyrosine, Dimethiconol, Oleyl Alcohol, Proline, Parfum, Tocopherol, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine Triphosphate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningCycloastragenol
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Yeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Quartz
Abrasive
Sodium Oleate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Cycloastragenol, Ceramide Ns, Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-12, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-11, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-8, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Yeast Polysaccharides, Sodium Lactate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Quartz, Sodium Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone 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 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
