What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Stearate/Caprate/Caprylate/Adipate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMyristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Palmitoyl Palmitamide Mea
HumectantBis-Capryloyloxypalmitamido Isopropanol
EmollientN-Linolenoyl Serinol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
Masking
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAzulene
Skin Conditioning
Lysine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Stearate/Caprate/Caprylate/Adipate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Sea Water, Phytosterols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Palmitamide Mea, Bis-Capryloyloxypalmitamido Isopropanol, N-Linolenoyl Serinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Leucine, Azulene, Lysine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Valine
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
N-Palmitoyl Serinol
Skin ProtectingHypericum Perforatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Sialyllactose
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Ethyl Linoleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Resveratrol, Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Stearate, Phytosterols, N-Palmitoyl Serinol, Hypericum Perforatum Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Sialyllactose, Cetyl Palmitate, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Laurate, Myristic Acid, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethylcellulose
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
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 CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 AlcoholPhytosterols are plant-derived sterols (you can think of them as the plant world's version of cholesterol). In cosmetics, this ingredient is usually sourced from soybean, rice bran, shea, sunflower, and other seed oils.
The main actors in this group are β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol (the CIR covers 27 phytosterols).
They work by fitting perfectly into your stratum corneum's lipid matrix since they're structurally similar to cholesterol. Here, they reinforce your skin's barrier.
One small in vivo human study showed topical soybean phytosterols sped up barrier recovery within three days on tape-stripped skin.
Broader research credits them with:
Formulation use typically sit under 5%.
Testing in soy-allergic subjects found no sensitization signals, but be sure to patch test if you are unsure or have existing allergies.
Learn more about PhytosterolsSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSorbitan Stearate comes from sorbitol and stearic acid. Sorbitol is a type of sugar and stearic acid is a fatty acid.
It is used as an emulsifier and helps ingredients stay together by creating water-in-oil emulsions.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Stearic 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
