This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Panthenol and Madecassoside to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Panthenol and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Vinyldimethicone
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
Solvent
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Phaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
Emulsifying3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAgar
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Myristate
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSea Salt
Abrasive
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantLactic Acid
Buffering
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingRutin
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingLysine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
Masking
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Taurine
BufferingTyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Tryptophan
MaskingPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Repagermanium
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Menadione
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningHesperidin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Vinyldimethicone, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Trimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate, Bisabolol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cholesterol, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Agar, Dextrin, Ceramide NP, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Magnesium Myristate, Magnesium Stearate, Sea Salt, Acetyl Glucosamine, Zinc Gluconate, Calcium Stearate, Lactic Acid, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Rutin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Zinc PCA, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Dipotassium Phosphate, Lysine, Leucine, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Cysteine, Citrulline, Ascorbic Acid, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Arginine, Ornithine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Taurine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Pantothenic Acid, Phenylalanine, Proline, Histidine, Retinyl Palmitate, Repagermanium, Linolenic Acid, Riboflavin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Menadione, Biotin, Bioflavonoids, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Thiamine Hcl, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Hesperidin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Citral
Reviews
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
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 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 TriglycerideCetearyl 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 AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolTocopherol 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 TocopherolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
