What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Betaine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Beta-Carotene, Carbomer, Arginine, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Glycosphingolipids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter
EmollientTrichilia Emetica Seed Butter
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPotassium Stearate
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Persea Gratissima Oil, Lactobacillus, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter, Trichilia Emetica Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Glycine Soja Oil, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Maltodextrin, Potassium Stearate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol 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 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