What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLaureth-9
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Jabara Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Vitis Labrusca Skin Extract
EmollientPentasodium Pentetate
Schizosaccharomyces Pombe Extract
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Cera Alba, PEG-40 Stearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Laureth-9, Xanthan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Carbomer, Citrus Jabara Peel Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Vitis Labrusca Skin Extract, Pentasodium Pentetate, Schizosaccharomyces Pombe Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHexyl Laurate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPullulan
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientOleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hexyl Laurate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Phytosterols, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCetyl Palmitate is a wax-like substance.
It comes from palmitic acid and palmityl alcohol. Cetyl Palmitate may not be safe for Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne.
This ingredient is naturally found in the guava fruit and stony corals.
Learn more about Cetyl PalmitateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sorbitan Stearate comes from sorbitol and stearic acid. Sorbitol is a type of sugar and stearic acid is a fatty acid.
It is used as an emulsifier and helps ingredients stay together by creating water-in-oil emulsions.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
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