What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingTrehalose
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingGloiopeltis Furcata Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Fructooligosaccharides
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCamphor
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveSarcosine
Skin Conditioning4-Terpineol
MaskingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Methyl Trimethicone, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Gloiopeltis Furcata Extract, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Disodium EDTA, Fructooligosaccharides, Salicylic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Capryloyl Glycine, Ceramide NP, Hexylene Glycol, Camphor, Silica, Sarcosine, 4-Terpineol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientTripelargonin
EmollientInulin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingFructose
HumectantUrea
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantInositol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Squalane, Tripelargonin, Inulin, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Arginine, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Saccharide Isomerate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Allantoin, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Inositol, Glucose, Lactic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCeramide 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 NPCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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