What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentLactic Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Arginine, Panthenol, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Betaine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingFructose
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingUrea
BufferingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMaltose
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantMagnesium Chloride
T-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveGlucose
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol 0.001%
PerfumingWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylamide, Alcohol Denat., Citric Acid, Fructose, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Laureth-7, Allantoin, Maltose, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Trehalose, Magnesium Chloride, T-Butyl Alcohol, Zinc Gluconate, Carbomer, Copper Tripeptide-1, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glucose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caffeine, Ceramide EOP, Benzyl Alcohol 0.001%
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, 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 CarbomerCeramide 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 CholesterolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhytosphingosine 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 PhytosphingosineSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateWater. 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