What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC15-19 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSqualane
EmollientIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol Cocoate
EmulsifyingCellulose
AbsorbentHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingMannitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantEthylcellulose
O-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantSalvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingRhamnose
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlabridin
BleachingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Squalane, Isostearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Cellulose, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Carnosine, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Mannitol, Xylitol, Ethylcellulose, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopherol, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Rhamnose, Glycine Soja Oil, Glabridin, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSteareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel FormingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolyacrylate-13
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
O-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantBehenic Acid
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingWater, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylate-13, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Tocopherol, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
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
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is more commonly known as IPMP or Isopropyl Methylphenol. It is a preservative and has antimicrobial properties.
According to the EPA, this ingredient is allowed for use in cleansers, creams, powders, bath products, toothpaste, perfume, and more.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water