What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diglycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientIsotridecyl Isononanoate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Vinyldimethicone
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisostearyl Malate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Lactobacillus Ferment, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Synthetic Beeswax, Vinyldimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitic Acid, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Methylpropanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-16 Alcohols, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Palmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidWater. 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
