What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Sorbitol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sorbitol, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPCA
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingTapioca Starch
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Lactate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium PCA, Propanediol, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Magnesium Aspartate, PCA, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Aspartic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Trehalose, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xylitol, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Tapioca Starch, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPhytosphingosine 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 PhytosphingosinePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
