What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Soybean Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC15-23 Alkane
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Bisabolol, Stearyl Alcohol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Allantoin, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethiconol, Panthenol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, C15-23 Alkane, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Bambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialOriganum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Olivate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Water, Glycerin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Squalane, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceresin, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Madecassoside, Copper Tripeptide-1, Allantoin, Panthenol, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Origanum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Butylene Glycol, C12-16 Alcohols, Isododecane, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Glycine, Glucose, Disodium EDTA
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 AllantoinDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Disodium 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 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 PanthenolStearic 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
