What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Stearic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Squalane, Retinol, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Beta-Glucan, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialMyristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylamide Mea
Antioxidant
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Myristyl Alcohol, Arachidic Acid, Lauryl Alcohol, Myristic Acid, Oleic Acid, Glycolipids, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Caprylamide Mea
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
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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 StearateStearic 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
