What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Styrene/Vp Copolymer
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Sorbic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, 2,3-Butanediol, Tocopherol, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Capryloyloxypalmitamido Isopropanol
EmollientXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Caprylic Acid
CleansingRaspberry Ketone
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Benzyl Glycol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Thymus Vulgaris Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Madecassoside, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Ceramide NP, Bis-Capryloyloxypalmitamido Isopropanol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Glucose, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylic Acid, Raspberry Ketone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Benzyl Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Mentha Viridis Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Barosma Betulina Leaf 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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCeramide 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 NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearatePanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
