What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Triisostearin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Orange Roughy Oil
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
BHT
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Mannitol
Humectant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingFucose
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Erythritol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Urea
Buffering
Trehalose
Humectant
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingChondrus Crispus
Masking
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Glycerophosphoinositol Choline
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pullulan
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingAlgin
Masking
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Viola Yedoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningTaraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Phosphate
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Orange Roughy Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Arachidyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phytosteryl Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Arachidyl Glucoside, Propanediol, BHT, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Mannitol, Ceteareth-20, Fucose, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Bisabolol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Pentylene Glycol, Hexyldecanol, Sodium PCA, Ceramide NP, Polysorbate 20, Erythritol, Disodium EDTA, Urea, Trehalose, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Chondrus Crispus, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Glycerophosphoinositol Choline, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Beta-Sitosterol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Serine, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Pisum Sativum Extract, Sorbic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Sodium Benzoate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pullulan, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Disodium Phosphate, Algin, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Carbomer, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Viola Yedoensis Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tocopherol, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Potassium Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ceramide AP
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
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Urea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Urea is actually one of the more well-studied and well-supported ingredients out there if you have eczema.
Clinical trials have shown that urea creams in the 5 - 10% range can:
Higher concentrations (20 -30%) can also help with thickened, scaly patches but is also more likely to sting on active flares.
Skip urea if you have rosacea. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) lists it alongside alcohol, menthol, and fragrance as a potential irritant for rosacea-prone skin. Urea's keratolytic and penetration-enhancing properties can trigger stinging, burning, and redness.
As always, your skin is unique, so definitely check in with your dermatologist.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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
