This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide NP and Ceramide AP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Petrolatum
Emollient
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Petrolatum, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Parfum
Masking
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Polysilicone-11
Polyacrylate-13
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPrunella Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTaraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Linalool
Perfuming
Glucose
Humectant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sparassis Crispa Extract
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Squalane, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polysilicone-11, Polyacrylate-13, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Limonene, Polysorbate 20, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Linalool, Glucose, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, BHT, Tocopherol, Sparassis Crispa 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.
Cetearyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopherol 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 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
