This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Snail Secretion Filtrate to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Rosea Root Extract
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Plantago Asiatica Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Ulmus Campestris Bark Extract
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Usnea Barbata Extract
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Bee Venom
Astringent
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Ulmus Campestris Bark Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Cetearyl Olivate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Tripeptide-1, Myristic Acid, Usnea Barbata Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Urea, Hexapeptide-11, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Bee Venom, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Water, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Polysorbate 20, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Lauric Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingZinc PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCeteareth-20
CleansingBHT
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Zinc PCA, Phenoxyethanol, C15-19 Alkane, Ceteareth-20, BHT, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Squalane, Triethylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
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.
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 preservatives
Cetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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 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 StearateSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractWater. 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
