What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Cetearyl Olivate
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dicaprylyl Ether, Vinyldimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipropylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium EDTA
Glucose
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Extract
AstringentWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Isostearyl Isostearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Xylitylglucoside, Panthenol, Dimethiconol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Anhydroxylitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Sodium Citrate, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Glucose, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Potassium Hydroxide, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Morus Alba Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerCetearyl 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 Panthenol
