What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Honey Extract
Humectant
Milk Protein Extract
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingSqualane
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Honey Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethanolamine, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, CI 77891
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ergothioneine, Glycerin, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Sucrose Cocoate, Panthenol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Water
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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
