What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientPolybutene
Glyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTapioca Starch
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPantolactone
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone
EmollientSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Panthenol, C15-19 Alkane, Cetyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Polybutene, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tapioca Starch, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPetrolatum
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLaureth-3
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Niacinamide, Paraffinum Liquidum, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ceteareth-20, Sodium PCA, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Laureth-3, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ceramide EOP
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SeSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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