What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
MaskingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingXylitylglucoside
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTromethamine
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlucose
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Xylitol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Panthenol, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Glycerin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Tocopherol, Anhydroxylitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glucose, Ceramide NP, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSpiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPalmitoyl Glycine
CleansingEctoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Stearic Acid
CleansingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Adenosine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Palmitoyl Glycine, Ectoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Malt Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Stearic Acid, Triethylhexanoin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Squalane, Phospholipids, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
This ingredient is created from dehydrating xylitol in acidic conditions. Xylitol is a famous sugar and humectant.
Much like its predecessor, anhydroxylitol is a humectant. Humectants attract and hold water to moisturize the skin.
This ingredient is most commonly found in a popular trio called Aquaxyl. Aquaxyl is made up of anhydroxylitol (24 - 34%), xylitylglucoside (35 - 50%), and xylitol (5 - 15%).
According to a manufacturer, Aquaxyl is known for a 3-D hydration concept and an anti-dehydration shield to reinforce the outer layer of skin.
This ingredient is often derived from plants such as wood and sugarcane.
Learn more about AnhydroxylitolButylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinWater. 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 WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about XylitolXylitylglucoside is created from xylitol and glucose, two humectants.
Not surprisingly, this ingredient is also a humectant. It attracts and holds water in your skin, helping to maintain hydration.
This ingredient is most commonly found in a popular trio called Aquaxyl. Aquaxyl is made up of anhydroxylitol(24 - 34%), xylitylglucoside (35 - 50%), and xylitol (5 - 15%).
According to a manufacturer, Aquaxyl is known for a 3-D hydration concept and an anti-dehydration shield to reinforce the outer layer of skin.
Learn more about Xylitylglucoside