What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Potassium Olivoyl PCA
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Orobanche Rapum Extract
Skin ProtectingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucosamine
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Potassium Olivoyl PCA, Glyceryl Oleate, Cellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Squalane, Pisum Sativum Extract, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Glucosamine, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caramel, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
PEG-8
HumectantKaolin
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Hydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Colloidal Silver
AntimicrobialPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTalc
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 Water
