What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSoy Protein Phthalate
EmollientPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Pvp, Silica, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Soy Protein Phthalate, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Steareth-20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891, CI 77491
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentPhaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate-13
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantRaffinose
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetic Acid
BufferingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingAcrylates Copolymer
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Rutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningHelichrysum Italicum Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Glucosamine Hcl
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingLysine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Citrate
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Methionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
Masking
Sucrose
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningSea Salt
Abrasive
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Ammonia
Buffering
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Uric Acid
BufferingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningCalcium Chloride
AstringentTaurine
BufferingTyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Tryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Formic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingProline
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Linoleate
Antioxidant
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Polycarbamyl Polyglycol Ester
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sesame Protein Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbic Acid Polypeptide
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantAcetyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Oryza Sativa Extract, Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Dimethicone, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Rose Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Collagen Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Phaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Polysorbate 60, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, C12-16 Alcohols, Polysorbate 20, Polyisobutene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyquaternium-51, Glycosyl Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Raffinose, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Adenosine, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Dipropylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Folic Acid, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Cholesterol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetic Acid, Triethylhexanoin, Acrylates Copolymer, Lactic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Rutin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Laurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Tromethamine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Magnesium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Phytosphingosine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Glycine, Glucosamine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Disodium Phosphate, Lysine, Leucine, Magnesium Citrate, Maltodextrin, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Sucrose, Cysteine, Citrulline, Sea Salt, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Arginine, Ammonia, Ornithine, Urea, Uric Acid, Isoleucine, Calcium Chloride, Taurine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Formic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Proline, Histidine, Ceramide Ng, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Ceramide AP, Vp/Polycarbamyl Polyglycol Ester, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Carbomer, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Acetyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Ceramide EOP, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 StearateWe don't have a description for Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol yet.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".
"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.
This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.
Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:
Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.
A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (aka Pal-GHK) is a synthetic signal peptide made of three amino acids attached to palmitic acid.
That fatty acid attachment is the key: it boosts the peptide's ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This puts it closer to the dermal cells where it can actually make a difference.
Once there, it acts as a matrikine, a signaling peptide that prompts fibroblasts to produce more collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
In vitro studies show it can boost collagen production in skin cells even when UV-damaged skin samples were treated with it at a tiny concentration (it almost fully restored dermal collagen at 5ppm). It achieved this at 100x lower concentration than retinoic acid, which needed 500 ppm to do the same thing.
Human clinical data is promising, but modest:
A study of 23 female volunteers found a small but statistically significant increase (~4%) in skin thickness after treatment at 4 ppm.
A separate small trial of 15 women showed statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness after applying it twice daily for four weeks.
You'll likely see Pal-GHK paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as part of the Matrixyl 3000 complex.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Water. 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
