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
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
C16-17 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-40 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
C8-9 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalene
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningImidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, C16-17 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Glyceryl Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cyclomethicone, Petrolatum, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyacrylamide, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, C8-9 Isoparaffin, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Squalene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Laureth-7, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Imidazolidinyl Urea
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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 StearateHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneLaureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.
This ingredient is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.
Peg-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.
Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.
Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.
It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.
We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about PolyacrylamideWater. 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
