What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Abies Sibirica Oil
Masking
Sodium Laurate
CleansingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Arachidyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silica, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Carbomer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Tromethamine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Adenosine, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Abies Sibirica Oil, Sodium Laurate, Bakuchiol, Fructooligosaccharides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglycerin-3, Beta-Glucan, Lauric Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Glucose, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Ceramide NP, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalene
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Isodecyl Citrate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Octyldodecyl PCA
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Diacetyl Boldine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Eugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Squalene, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Betaine, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Isodecyl Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Octyldodecyl PCA, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Yeast Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Phytosterols, Phospholipids, Retinol, Tocopherol, Diacetyl Boldine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Chlorphenesin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholDisodium 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 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 StearateThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilTocopherol 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
