What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantThymol Trimethoxycinnamate
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Copernicia Cerifera Wax Extract
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Caesalpinia Sappan Stem Powder
Exfoliating
Cholesterol
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diisostearyl Malate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Betaine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methyl Trimethicone, C14-22 Alcohols, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearic Acid, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Arachidyl Alcohol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Acetyl Glucosamine, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Thymol Trimethoxycinnamate, Gluconolactone, Glucose, Tocopherol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Mannitol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax Extract, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Silica, Arachidic Acid, Caesalpinia Sappan Stem Powder, Cholesterol, Oleic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Leaf Extract
AstringentBisabolol
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Avena Sativa Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Gluconolactone, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Gluconate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide 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 NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
