What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthanolamine
BufferingOleth-10
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Simethicone
Emollient
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Urea, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Ethanolamine, Oleth-10, Polysorbate 60, Aluminum Hydroxide, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Simethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Steareth-21
CleansingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Stevioside
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-21, Polysorbate 60, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Menthoxypropanediol, Squalane, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stevioside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Trideceth-9, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 20, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 16035, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 17200, CI 77499, CI 19140, CI 42090, CI 45380
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. 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
