What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningPotassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
CleansingSqualane
EmollientDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingPolyisobutene
Glyceryl Oleate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate-13
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Ceramide NP, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Potassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Squalane, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Bisabolol, Betaine, Panthenol, Ceteareth-20, Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyacrylate-13, Sucrose Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPolyacrylamide
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
EmulsifyingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil
MaskingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingMalic Acid
BufferingOctanal
PerfumingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningQuercetin
AntioxidantRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Trisiloxane, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Laureth-7, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyacrylamide, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Beeswax, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Malic Acid, Octanal, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Quercetin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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