What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glucosyl Ceramide
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Alpha-Glucan
HumectantResveratrol
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium PCA
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C10-18 Triglycerides, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Beta-Sitosterol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Oleic Acid, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Glucosyl Ceramide, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Glycosphingolipids, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Alpha-Glucan, Resveratrol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium PCA, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sorbitan Isostearate, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Quercetin, Astaxanthin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Dextrin, Palmitic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lactate, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Propanediol, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Parfum, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 CarbomerCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
