What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventMagnesium Sulfate
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDisodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates
CleansingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSilver
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, C13-15 Alkane, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dibutyl Adipate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Silver, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide EOP, Glycosphingolipids
Water
Skin ConditioningDodecane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Triethanolamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Amylopectin
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Dodecane, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Triethanolamine, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Parfum, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Tocopherol, Amylopectin, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzoic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Lactic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 StearatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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 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
