What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingLinoleic Acid
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAleuritic Acid
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Polysorbate 80, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Squalane, Isohexadecane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Aleuritic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCalluna Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientC20-40 Pareth-10
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
Mangifera Indica Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingGold
Cosmetic ColorantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCholeth-24
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCeteth-24
CleansingTriticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Sulfite
PreservativeSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Morus Bombycis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingEDTA
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Yeast Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Calluna Vulgaris Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, C20-40 Pareth-10, PEG-100 Stearate, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Acetyl Glucosamine, Algae Extract, Linoleic Acid, Gold, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caffeine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Choleth-24, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ceteth-24, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Citric Acid, EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 19140, Caramel
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 GlycolThis ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Once applied, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin 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 StearateLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. This oil is non-fragrant and is an emollient. As an emollient, meadowfoam seed oil helps soften and hydrate the skin.
Meadowfoam seed oil is stable and has a long shelf life due to its chemical structure. It has the highest concentration of stable fatty-acids among plant oils, preventing it from degrading once exposed to oxygen.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Meadowfoam is native to California and Oregon.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilLinoleic Acid is also known as Vitamin F. It is a fatty acid with emollient and skin conditioning properties. Our top layer of skin, or epidermis, contains high amounts of linoleic acid naturally.
Your body uses linoleic acid to build ceramides and prostaglandins. Ceramides keep your skin's barrier hydrated and strong while prosaglandins help control inflammation and healing. Needless to say, linoleic acid is crucial for having a strong skin barrier.
One study found applying linoleic acid rich sunflower oil to be more effective at repairing the skin barrier than oleic rich olive oil.
Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, meaning our bodies cannot create it on its own. We need to get linoleic acid through foods such as nuts and vegetable oils.
Acne-prone skin tends to have linoleic acid and high levels of oleic acid.
Linoleic acid can also help treat acne by softening sebum to prevent clogged pores. Another study found using 2.5% linoleic acid gel for 4 weeks showed a 25% reduction in small comedones.
This ingredient can also help lighten hyperpigmentation or sun spots by disrupting the melanin production process. It also helps your skin shed melanin pigment from your skin caused by UV exposure.
Due to its role in the production of the fatty acid prostaglandin, linoleic acid can also help reduce inflammation and support wound healing.
Linoleic acid is not always fungal-acne safe; it may trigger flare-ups in sensitive individuals.
Learn more about Linoleic AcidPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients.
Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols. FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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 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