What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Stearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Silica
AbrasiveAcrylates Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPantethine
EmollientMelanin
Skin ProtectingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingIsostearic Acid
CleansingSimethicone
EmollientDimethicone PEG-8 Polyacrylate
Urea
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingPEG-8 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77400
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77000
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyisobutene, Silica, Acrylates Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lauroyl Lysine, Pantethine, Melanin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Pvp, Acacia Senegal Gum, Isostearic Acid, Simethicone, Dimethicone PEG-8 Polyacrylate, Urea, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77400, CI 42090, CI 77891, CI 19140, CI 77288, CI 77289, CI 75470, CI 77163, CI 77007, CI 77000
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingLecithin
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyethylene
AbrasiveAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSimethicone
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTrisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantWater, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Stearic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Triethanolamine, Lecithin, Propylene Carbonate, Synthetic Wax, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oleic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Polyethylene, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Simethicone, Glycine Soja Oil, Trisodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Simethicone is a silicone. It is an emollient and used to reduce foaming in a product. It is also often used to coat sunscreen ingredients for better spreadability.
This ingredient is created by mixing dimethylpolysiloxane and hydrated silica.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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