What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprate
EmollientGlycol
HumectantLecithin
Emollient
Dihydroxylignoceroyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Chloride
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-60 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ceteareth-25
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprate, Glycol, Lecithin, Dihydroxylignoceroyl Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Eos, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Pyridoxine Hcl, Serine, Butylene Glycol, PEG-60 Castor Oil, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Cholesterol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Behenic Acid, Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Ceteareth-25, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Α-Olefin Oligomer
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
PEG-90
HumectantPetrolatum
Emollient
Decamethyltetrasiloxane
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Calcium Chloride
AstringentMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Water, Glycerin, Α-Olefin Oligomer, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PEG-90, Petrolatum, Decamethyltetrasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Batyl Alcohol, Carbomer, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPetrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.
This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.
Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.
The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.
Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.
Petrolatum may not be safe for fungal-acne. Studies show mineral oil / petroleum leads to the growth of M. Furfur, a type of yeast.
However, it’s worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.
Fungal acne isn’t about comedogenic ratings. It’s more about whether certain ingredients can feed the yeast on your skin, which can trigger those breakouts.
Learn more about PetrolatumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
