What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentCnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Euglena Gracilis Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Triethanolamine, Salicylic Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Chlorphenesin, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Euglena Gracilis Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCollagen
Moisturising
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Stearic Acid, Parfum, Dimethicone, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Chlorphenesin, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Octocrylene, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Collagen, Ceramide NP, Sodium Surfactin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateStearic 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
