What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientIsotridecyl Isononanoate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingVinyldimethicone
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantMethylpropanediol
SolventBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-16 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
Glycerin 40%
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Seed Oil
EmollientMalpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract
AntioxidantGarcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Palmitic Acid
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGlycerin 40%, Water, Panthenol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Seed Oil, Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Glucoside, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis 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 AcidPanthenol 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 PanthenolTocopherol 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 Water