What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBakuchiol, Water, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phytosphingosine, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
Emollient
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Stearic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Caprylyl Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Squalane, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Beta-Glucan, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
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.
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 preservatives
Beta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SeStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
