What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoconut Alkanes
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Mono/Dioleate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Oleate
EmulsifyingPhosphatidylglycerol
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantGlucose
HumectantEuterpe Oleracea Sterols
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingHydrated Silica
AbrasiveSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAcer Saccharum Sap
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Mono/Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Phosphatidylglycerol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Glucose, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium Phosphate, Hydrated Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Allantoin, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Acer Saccharum Sap, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientOleyl Erucate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingZinc PCA
HumectantHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientGlucose
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Succinate
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientAchillea Millefolium Flower Extract
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Oleyl Erucate, Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Glucose, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Succinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Squalane, Achillea Millefolium Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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