What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningElettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
PerfumingSantalum Album Wood Extract
PerfumingRose Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingHedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientArctium Majus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingCananga Odorata Flower Extract
PerfumingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitronellol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Rose Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Triethanolamine, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningRhaponticum Uniflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Extract
EmollientSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingGlucose
HumectantOleic Acid
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Rhaponticum Uniflorum Root Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, C14-22 Alcohols, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Arachidic Acid, Palmitic Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, Glucose, Oleic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract is extract from Apples. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, sugars, and antioxidants.
The sugar in Apples are humectants and help hydrate the skin. On top of that, apples also contain some acids, such as malic acid. These acids may have a mild exfoliating effect.
Last, the phytochemicals found in apples are strong antioxidants. These antioxidants help with anti-aging as they protect your skin cells against oxidative damage.
Learn more about Pyrus Malus Fruit ExtractSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateStearic 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