What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Thamnolia Vermicularis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDextrin
AbsorbentTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sphingolipids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Vinyldimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ectoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Thamnolia Vermicularis Leaf Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dextrin, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientBackhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentCitrus Glauca Fruit Extract
HumectantDavidsonia Jerseyana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sucrose Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Soluble Collagen, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Lecithin, Steareth-20, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sucrose Palmitate, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Davidsonia Jerseyana Fruit Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Sodium Metabisulfite, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, 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.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 HyaluronateWater. 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
