What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tromethamine
BufferingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cyclohexane
SolventAcrylic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Squalane, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Phenoxyethanol, Tromethamine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide EOP, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Cyclohexane, Acrylic Acid
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPoly(2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine-Co-N-Butyl Methacrylate)
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
PPG-17 Butyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventMethicone
Emollient
PPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Methylparaben
Preservative
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-7 Lauryl Ether
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC16-24 Alkyl C16-24 Acidate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ascorbic Acid, Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Poly(2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine-Co-N-Butyl Methacrylate), Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PPG-17 Butyl Ether, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Methicone, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Hydroxystearate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Methylparaben, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-7 Lauryl Ether, Xanthan Gum, C16-24 Alkyl C16-24 Acidate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateXanthan 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
