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
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Troxerutin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polysilicone-11
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Nonapeptide-1, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Lactate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Troxerutin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Maltodextrin, Polysilicone-11, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum, CI 15985, CI 19140, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Reviews
Alternatives
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is created from the diester of stearic acid and the condensation product of methylglucose and Polyglycerin-3.
As an emulsifier, it is used to bind ingredients together. Many ingredients, such as oils and water, separate naturally. Emulsifiers prevent them from separating to ensure even consistency in texture.
One of the manufacturer for this ingredient states it is vegetable-based. It is also claimed to be stable at both high and low temperatures.
This ingredient may not be safe for fungal acne. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearatePropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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
