What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCyclomethicone
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Sorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Caprylyl Methicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Propanediol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Cyclomethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Sorbitan Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Madecassoside, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide Ns, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Eos
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Caprylic Acid
CleansingAlumina
Abrasive
P-Cresol
Antimicrobial
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aluminum Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Caprylic Acid, Alumina, P-Cresol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Allantoin
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
Caprylyl Methicone is a synthetic and lightweight silicone fluid. It gives products a silky, dry-touch finish without the heaviness of pure oils.
Though the EU CosIng Database lists this ingredient as a skin conditioner, it is also used for sensory reasons. It spreads easily, cuts greasiness, and reduces tackiness.
This ingredient is volatile which means it will mostly evaporate (but it evaporates slower than older cyclomethicones, like Cyclotetrasiloxane).
Typical concentration ranges from 1-30% depending on if it's being used to tweak the feel of a product or acting as the main emollient.
Learn more about Caprylyl MethiconeCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolStearic 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
