What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCanola Oil
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientSqualane
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantSqualene
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
HumectantSerine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingPantolactone
HumectantArginine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPolyglycerin-3
HumectantGlutamic Acid
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingAlumina
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Canola Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Squalane, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Squalene, Panthenol, Betaine, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium PCA, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Pantolactone, Arginine, Threonine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polyglycerin-3, Glutamic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Alumina, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIron Oxides
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Helianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientSucrose
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSpirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberWater, Propanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, CI 77163, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Mica, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Xanthan Gum, Iron Oxides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Chlorphenesin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Niacinamide, CI 77891, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Sucrose, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglycerin-3, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax is created from the common sunflower.
Sunflower seed wax is made up of long chain non-glyceride esters, a small amount of fatty alcohols, and fatty acids.
This ingredient is often used to enhance the texture of products. The fatty acid properties also help hydrate the skin.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed WaxJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polyglycerin-3 is a 3-unit glycerin polymer.
Like glycerin, this ingredient is a humectant. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing water to it.
Having moisturized skin helps improve the skin barrier. Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Learn more about Polyglycerin-3Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an emulsifier and helps condition the skin. It is amino acid-based.
In higher amounts, it may act as a cleansing agent.
Tocopherol (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. 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