What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHexyldecyl Stearate
EmollientIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingGeraniol
PerfumingSodium Phytate
Parfum
MaskingCitral
PerfumingWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Isocetyl Stearate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arachidyl Glucoside, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Linalool, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Citric Acid, Geraniol, Sodium Phytate, Parfum, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingOlus Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
AntimicrobialEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycolic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Olus Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, C13-15 Alkane, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
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 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 StearateWater. 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