What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Maxima Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cellulose
Absorbent
Citrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Powder
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Corn Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Phytate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Eugenol
Perfuming
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cucurbita Maxima Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cellulose, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Powder, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bromelain, Papain, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycolipids, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Corn Oil, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Lactate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Maltodextrin, Sodium Phytate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Parfum, Eugenol, CI 40800, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin (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 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
