What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingHyssopus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Panthenol, Carbomer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Limonene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Hyssopus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialEchinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeJojoba Esters
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diheptyl Succinate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Jojoba Esters, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Eugenol, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Tocopherol 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 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