What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Wheat Straw Glycosides
EmulsifyingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sucrose
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Tridecyl Stearate
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
EmulsifyingMolasses Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
PEG-8
HumectantCera Alba
Emollient
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Nylon-12
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Glyceryl Behenate, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Wheat Straw Glycosides, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Whey Protein, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sucrose, Acetyl Glucosamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Jojoba Esters, Tridecyl Stearate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Molasses Extract, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Bisabolol, PEG-8, Cera Alba, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Nylon-12, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantDimethiconol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
C15-19 Alkane
SolventSilica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Zea Mays Starch, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Caffeine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglycerin-6, Dimethiconol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, C15-19 Alkane, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Ascorbic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
