What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingFructose
Humectant
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingAesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Algin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Darutoside
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Maris Aqua
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rhizobian Gum
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sucrose
Humectant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Acacia Senegal Gum, Fructose, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ceramide NP, Darutoside, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Maris Aqua, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rhizobian Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-16 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Squalane, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sucrose, Pantolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Tromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Palmitic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
