What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Oleifera Seed Extract
AstringentAlgae Extract
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Geranium Maculatum Oil
Masking
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Oleifera Seed Extract, Algae Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCanola Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Canola Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium PCA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
