What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sargassum Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Juice Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract
Perfuming
Wine Extract
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Water, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Collagen Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sargassum Vulgare Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Juice Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Wine Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Linalool
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
EmulsifyingSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Water, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract is also known as Ivy Gourd Fruit Extract. It has skin conditioning properties.
This ingredient is also known as Bhringaraj extract or False Daisy. It is a skin conditioning ingredient that keeps skin soft and hydrated.
Research shows it has antioxidant properties; lab studies have found it can protect skin cells from UV-induced damage and help suppress inflammation.
There's also some interesting research on its potential to support hair growth by promoting the growth phase of the hair cycle.
Those with an allergy to plants in the daisy family may want to patch test this ingredient. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated otherwise.
Learn more about Eclipta Prostrata ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSynthetic Wax is created from fossil fuels such as natural gas. It is used to enhance texture, adjust pH, and as an occlusive.
It may also be used as an abrasive ingredient to exfoliate the skin.
Synthetic Wax may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
