What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPhytonadione
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Glycol Distearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Phytonadione, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Steareth-20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPhytonadione Epoxide
AstringentSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingAlcohol
AntimicrobialStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantLecithin
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningEscin
TonicGlycerin
HumectantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingBisabolol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantArnica Montana Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingSymphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Phytonadione Epoxide, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Lecithin, Dimethicone, Phosphatidylcholine, Gluconolactone, Escin, Glycerin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Beta-Sitosterol, Sodium Benzoate, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Allantoin, Propylene Glycol, Arnica Montana Extract, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Limonene
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 AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight emollient made by combining isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
It is an emollient that leaves skin feeling smooth and silky without leaving a greasy feel.
Typical usage concentrations range from 1-5%.
Human testing shows it's non-irritating and non-sensitizing, and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has cleared it at very high levels (79% in leave-on products).
The one thing worth knowing about its comedogenic score of 3-4 is to keep it in perspective: these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests using 100% of pure ingredient and doesn't reflect how it behaves at low levels in a finished product.
Because it is an ester of palmitic acid (C16), it falls into the range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on and is considered not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitateStearic 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 Water