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
Propanediol
Solvent
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Squalane, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, C15-19 Alkane, Silica, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate, Beta-Glucan, Ectoin, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide Ag, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Trehalose, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 NPEctoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use.
This ingredient is an osmolyte; Osmolytes help organisms survive osmotic shock (it protects them from extreme conditions). It does this by influencing the properties of biological fluids within cells.
When applied to the skin, ectoin helps bind water molecules to protect our skin. The water forms a sort of armor for the parts of our skin cells, enzymes, proteins, and more.
Besides this, ectoin has many uses in skincare:
A study from 2004 found ectoin to counteract the damage from UV-A exposure at different cell levels. It has also been shown to protect skin against both UV-A, UV-B rays, infrared light, and visible light.
Studies show ectoin to have dual-action pollution protection: first, it protects our skin from further pollution damage. Second, it helps repair damage from pollution.
In fact, ectoin has been shown to help with:
Fun fact: In the EU, ectoin is used in inhalation medication as an anti-pollution ingredient.
Ectoin is a highly stable ingredient. It has a wide pH range of 1-9. Light, oxygen, and temperature do not affect this ingredient.
The chemical name for this ingredient is Tetrahydromethylpyrimidine Carboxylic Acid.
Learn more about EctoinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s 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 PropanediolSodium 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
