What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isomerized Linoleic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Alanine
Masking
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Cholesteryl Macadamiate
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientGlycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Olivate, Stearyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Ceramide NP, Myristyl Alcohol, Arginine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Isomerized Linoleic Acid, Lauryl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Linoleic Acid, Sodium PCA, Serine, Glycine, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Alanine, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Glutamic Acid, Cholesteryl Macadamiate, Phytosphingosine, Sucrose Stearate, Glycosphingolipids
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitamide Mea
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Palmitamide Mea, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolGlycerin (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 GlycerinStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
