What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingBetaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Triethylhexanoin, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Squalane, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Paraffin
Perfuming
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
BHT
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Paraffin, Cera Microcristallina, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Retinyl Palmitate, Sorbitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Collagen Amino Acids, BHT, Pantolactone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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
