What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningIsoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Isoamyl Laurate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Inulin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tocopherol, Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Levulinate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Behenic Acid, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ceramide EOP, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Phytosteryl Hydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Behenate, Phytosteryl Hydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Inulin, Panthenol, Phytosterols, Polyglycerin-3, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Stearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCetearyl 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 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 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 StearateInulin is a polysaccharide (carbohydrate) with prebiotic and antioxidant properties.
The majority of inulin is extracted from chicory, but can also be obtained from other plants such as garlic, onion, asparagus, and sugarcane.
Studies show inulin may help with controlling your skin's natural microbiota when applied topically.
The antioxidant potential of inulin varies depending on the source.
Learn more about InulinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateThis ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilSorbitan Stearate is an emulsifier made by reacting sorbitol with stearic acid.
It's mostly used to keep oil and water mixed so your formulas stay smooth and stable.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has found 4% of this ingredient in repeat-insult patch tests on humans to be non-sensitizing. There is a caveat that some reactions have shown up in patients with damaged or diseased skin.
Because it is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it falls into the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. This means this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan StearateWater. 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
