What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Asparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingZinc Citrate
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Triethanolamine
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaureth-4
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Tetrasodium EDTA
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Jojoba Esters, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Potassium Sorbate, Ceramide EOP, Sorbitol, Carbomer, Zinc Citrate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethanolamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tocopherol, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Laureth-4, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Maltodextrin, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Pinus Thunbergii Branch/Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Honey Extract
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientPEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol
Cleansing
Choleth-24
EmulsifyingCeteth-24
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Angelica Dahurica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenophora Stricta Root Extract
HumectantCnidium Officinale Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Fritillaria Verticillata Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPapaver Rhoeas Petal Extract
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Dextrin
AbsorbentCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Arachidonate
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Benzophenone-5
UV Absorber
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Propanediol, Squalane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Panthenol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Pinus Thunbergii Branch/Leaf Extract, Ethyl Hexanediol, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Honey Extract, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Sitosterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Choleth-24, Ceteth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Angelica Dahurica Root Extract, Adenophora Stricta Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Rhizome Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Fritillaria Verticillata Bulb Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Papaver Rhoeas Petal Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Beeswax, Dextrin, Cetyl Phosphate, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Linoleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Alcohol Denat., BHT, Benzophenone-5, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCeramide 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 NPCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Vegetable Oil is created by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil in order to give it more stability. This process also raises the melting point of vegetable oil. In cosmetics, it is an emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
The term "Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil" is an umbrella term and can refer to a variety of vegetable oils and blends of: sunflower oil, soybean oil, olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, and more.
Due to the differences in vegetables, the benefits may vary.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Vegetable 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
