What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Vinyldimethicone
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Synthetic Wax, Caprylyl Methicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Ozokerite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Vinyldimethicone, Polysilicone-15, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ceresin, Bisabolol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Water, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Zinc PCA, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Synthetic Wax, Microcrystalline Wax, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Glycerin, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Adenosine, Water, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-1, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Collagen Extract, Sodium Dna
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxWater. 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
