What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Maltol
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gossypium Hirsutum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-80
CleansingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSerine
Masking
Valine
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningSucrose Distearate
Emollient
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Diisostearyl Malate, Diheptyl Succinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Maltol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Arginine, PCA, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gossypium Hirsutum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium PCA, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-80, Sorbitan Isostearate, Saccharide Isomerate, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Aspartic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine, Alanine, Dipropylene Glycol, Serine, Valine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Sucrose Distearate, Histidine, Phenylalanine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientSucrose Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Ceteareth-20, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Beta-Sitosterol, Sucrose Stearate, Sucrose Distearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Polysorbate 20, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCeramide EOP is formally known as Ceramide 1.
It is naturally found in skin and part of the intercellular "mortar" holding everything together in your outermost layer.
EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
What makes Ceramide EOP special is its ultra-long fatty acid chain; this unique structure allows it to bridge the lipid layers in your skin barrier to prevent water loss (something no other ceramide can do).
Low levels of Ceramide EOP have been found in people with eczema and psoriasis.
Using it together with other ceramides, cholesterol, and linoleic acid have been shown to meaningfully improve hydration and reduce water loss.
In one clinical study, a regimen using Ceramide EOP, NP, and AP led to significant symptom improvements in patients with eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin in just 4 weeks.
You'll usually see concentrations between 0.1-0.5% in formulations. Overall, this is a well-tolerated and safe ingredient for cosmetic use.
Learn more about Ceramide EOPCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSucrose Distearate is made up of the sucrose (sugar) esthers of stearic acid. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Water. 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
