What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMannitol
HumectantArginine
MaskingSerine
MaskingSucrose
HumectantPCA
HumectantCitrulline
Skin ConditioningGlycogen
HumectantHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
EmollientThreonine
Glutamic Acid
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingArachidic Acid
CleansingLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Cholesterol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Mannitol, Arginine, Serine, Sucrose, PCA, Citrulline, Glycogen, Histidine Hcl, Alanine, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Cholesterol, Silica
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSucrose Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Dibehenate
EmollientFructooligosaccharides
HumectantMannitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantRhamnose
HumectantLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningPeumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingZanthoxylum Bungeanum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOleyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Sucrose Stearate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Fructooligosaccharides, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Fruit Extract, Tribehenin, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinMannitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a humectant and moisturizes the skin. In vitro (not tested on a living organism), mannitol displays antioxidant properties.
When found in aqueous solutions, mannitol tends to become acidic. This is because it loses a hydrogen ion. This is why mannitol can often be found with pH adjusting ingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate.
Fun fact: Mannitol can be found in foods as a sweetener. It can be naturally found in mushrooms, algae, fruits, and veggies.
Learn more about MannitolWater. 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