What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Propanediol
Solvent
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propanediol, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Laureth-7, Capryloyl Glycine, Allantoin, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sarcosine, Cholesterol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Dimethiconol, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-40
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingVitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPorphyridium Polysaccharide
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Water, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-40, Tetrasodium EDTA, Allantoin, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Porphyridium Polysaccharide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolTetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Water. 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
