What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolylysine
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Glycolipids, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polylysine, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Stearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Glucose, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phytosphingosine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Maltodextrin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Astaxanthin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Citrate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholCeramide 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 CholesterolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl 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 StearatePhytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosineWater. 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
