What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Panthenol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phytosterols, Ceramide AP, Glyceryl Caprylate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Pentylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylheptyl Carbonate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylheptyl Carbonate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glucomannan, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Distarch Phosphate, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Zinc PCA, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Madecassoside, Lactic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
