What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Propanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSodium Carbonate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Linoleic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Linolenic Acid, Adenosine, Beta-Glucan, Quercetin, Allantoin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Anogeissus Leiocarpus Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Asparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Algae Extract
EmollientSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Algin
Sorbitol
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTricaprylin
Perfuming
Myristyl Laurate
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose Acetate Butyrate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Myristyl Myristate, C13-15 Alkane, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, C9-12 Alkane, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Squalane, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Retinol, Anogeissus Leiocarpus Bark Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Punica Granatum Sterols, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Algae Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Sorbitol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tricaprylin, Myristyl Laurate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Lecithin, Magnesium Stearate, Myristyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Carbomer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Silica, Silica Silylate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer 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 CarbomerCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
