What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMannitol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGellan Gum
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Mannitol, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gellan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pantolactone, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Citric Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Pullulan
Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Glauca Fruit Extract
HumectantDavidsonia Jerseyana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pullulan, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Davidsonia Jerseyana Fruit Extract, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumWater. 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
