What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningOnsen-Sui
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingPropanediol
SolventPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Acrylates Copolymer
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEDTA
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningIllite
AbrasiveCollagen
MoisturisingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialGlucose
HumectantMannose
HumectantParfum
MaskingGlycerin, Water, Onsen-Sui, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Propanediol, Potassium Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Tocopherol, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Collagen Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine Soja Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Stearate, Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Decylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, EDTA, Cyanocobalamin, Ceramide NP, Illite, Collagen, Phytosphingosine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glucose, Mannose, 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.
Ceramide 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 StearatePhytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosineTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 Water