What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
Astringent
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Water
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Synthetic Wax, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Limonene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Linalool, Sucrose Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Beta-Carotene, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopherol, Water, Butylene Glycol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
PEG-10 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientParfum
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
4-Terpineol
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Indigofera Tinctoria Extract
MaskingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningHemerocallis Fulva Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMyosotis Sylvatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxycinnamic Acid
Skin ConditioningRutin
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Isododecane, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Synthetic Wax, PEG-10 Isostearate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Parfum, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Water, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Coptis Japonica Extract, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, 4-Terpineol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Propanediol, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Indigofera Tinctoria Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Hemerocallis Fulva Flower Extract, Myosotis Sylvatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Rutin
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
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 GlycolEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin (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 StearateSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
It has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxWater. 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
