What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantC9-12 Alkane
SolventDiglycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol Cocoate
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingSodium Isostearate
CleansingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylcellulose
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Isopentyldiol, C9-12 Alkane, Diglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Jojoba Esters, Isostearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ectoin, Lactic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Gluconate, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Sodium Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingAstrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventShorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
EmollientNigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientAvena Sativa Bran Extract
AbrasiveCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCeteareth-20
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantCholesterol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-30
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Squalane, Methylpropanediol, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Bisabolol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Betaine, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Ceramide NP, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrapeptide-30, Potassium Sorbate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ceramide EOP
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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