What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingVinyldimethicone
Diglycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Isododecane
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSuccinic Acid
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Sodium Phytate
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningSodium Heparin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingWater, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vinyldimethicone, Diglycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isododecane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Succinic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ceramide Ns, Sodium Heparin, Cholesterol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Squalane, Dipropylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide EOP, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantIsopentyldiol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
4-Terpineol
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentPrunus Domestica Fruit Extract
MoisturisingTrehalose
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientPCA
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingArginine
MaskingGlycolic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningColostrum
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract
PerfumingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingGolden Extract
Myristic Acid
CleansingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diglycerin, Isopentyldiol, Polyglycerin-3, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 4-Terpineol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, PCA, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Colostrum, Disodium EDTA, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Golden Extract, Myristic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholDiglycerin is a humectant. It is derived from glycerin, which is naturally found in your skin.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture to the skin from the air.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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