What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
AntioxidantPolyacrylate-13
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPolyisobutene
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingApium Graveolens Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentBrassica Rapa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Phosphate
BufferingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Panthenol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Polyacrylate-13, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Polyisobutene, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Apium Graveolens Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Brassica Rapa Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Sodium Phosphate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-1, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXylitol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantMyristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBis-Capryloyloxypalmitamido Isopropanol
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCaprylic Acid
CleansingRaspberry Ketone
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Benzyl Glycol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingThymus Vulgaris Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingBarosma Betulina Leaf Extract
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Madecassoside, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Ceramide NP, Bis-Capryloyloxypalmitamido Isopropanol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Glucose, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylic Acid, Raspberry Ketone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Benzyl Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Mentha Viridis Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract
Reviews
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 StearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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