What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Disodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Allantoin, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativePolyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingDichlorobenzyl Alcohol
AntimicrobialTriethanolamine
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Petrolatum, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Polyacrylic Acid, Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Niacinamide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceteareth-20 is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. It is derived from cetearyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol.
As an emulsifier, Ceteareth-20 prevents oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant. Surfactants help gather oil, pollution, and dirt to be washed away.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water