What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethyl Caprylate
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Cellulose
Absorbent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Serine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Pullulan
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlgin
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenoxyethyl Caprylate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Arginine, Cellulose, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Trehalose, Urea, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Serine, Pentylene Glycol, Pullulan, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Algin, Sodium Gluconate, Pantolactone, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Japonica Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
Emulsion Stabilising
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentDiglycerin
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tapioca Starch
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlucosylrutin
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhytic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Japonica Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Distarch Phosphate, Diglycerin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tapioca Starch, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Glucosylrutin, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Astaxanthin, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phytic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
