What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDimethiconol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Squalane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Mannitol, C14-22 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Polyacrylate-13, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Allantoin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Dimethiconol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Silica, Phytosphingosine, Sphingolipids, Arachidic Acid, Tocopherol, Oleic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glutathione
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xylose
HumectantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Isododecane, Pentylene Glycol, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Salicylic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Glutathione, Lactobionic Acid, Superoxide Dismutase, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mandelic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Arginine, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Sodium Dna, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Pyridoxine Hcl, Caprylyl Glycol, Xylose, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Alternatives
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 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 GlycerinOleic Acid is an Omega-9 fatty acid that can be found naturally in your skin's sebum and in many plant oils such as avocado and olive oil.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and prevent moisture loss.
Research shows:
A 1998 study did find that applying oleic acid at higher concentrations may cause irritation and disrupt the skin barrier. Modern formulations typically use low levels that is well-tolerated.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Oleic Acid, at C18, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Oleic AcidPalmitic 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 AcidStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol 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
