What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Glycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil
AstringentCaprylic Acid
CleansingAlumina
AbrasiveP-Cresol
AntimicrobialAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aluminum Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Caprylic Acid, Alumina, P-Cresol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Allantoin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBetaine
HumectantMagnesium Sulfate
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Inositol
HumectantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientC30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Stearic Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Water
MaskingEchium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Capillaris Extract 0.005%
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Cyclohexasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, CI 77891, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dibutyl Adipate, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Betaine, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Inositol, Aluminum Hydroxide, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octyldodecanol, Adenosine, Glycerin, Squalane, Allantoin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Artemisia Capillaris Extract 0.005%, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tocopherol
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl Methicone is a synthetic and lightweight silicone fluid. It gives products a silky, dry-touch finish without the heaviness of pure oils.
Though the EU CosIng Database lists this ingredient as a skin conditioner, it is also used for sensory reasons. It spreads easily, cuts greasiness, and reduces tackiness.
This ingredient is volatile which means it will mostly evaporate (but it evaporates slower than older cyclomethicones, like Cyclotetrasiloxane).
Typical concentration ranges from 1-30% depending on if it's being used to tweak the feel of a product or acting as the main emollient.
Learn more about Caprylyl MethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolStearic 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 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