What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningVinyldimethicone
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Vulgaris Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, 1,2-Hexanediol, Vinyldimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Trimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipropylene Glycol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Fructooligosaccharides, Adenosine, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Methylpropanediol, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Ceramide NP, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Phaseolus Vulgaris Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Arginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Arginine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Parfum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Honey Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Royal Jelly Extract, CI 19140, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Propolis Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ethyl Hexanediol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 StearateWater. 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