What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventLaurylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicHyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBorago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein Extract
Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Rice Bran/Saccharomyces/Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Ferment
Antioxidant
Bifida/Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Extract
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Seed Extract
BufferingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVerbena Officinalis Leaf Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Nonfat Dry Milk
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Ceteareth-12, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Methylpropanediol, Laurylpyridinium Chloride, Allantoin, Betaine, Dimethyl Sulfone, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Rice Bran/Saccharomyces/Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Ferment, Bifida/Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Extract, Citric Acid, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Brassica Campestris Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Verbena Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Disodium EDTA, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Nonfat Dry Milk
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Ceteareth-12 yet.
Ceteareth-20 is an emulsifier and surfactant made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
This gives it both oil and water-loving properties that makes it an effect emulsifier; it's really great at pulling oil droplets into water to create a stable, creamy, and easy-to-spread base.
Typical use ranges from 0.5-30%. Most leave-on products are in the 1-10% zone.
The 20 ethylene oxide units is well above the PEG-10 threshold and therefore not a food source for Malassezia (it's fungal acne safe).
This ingredient has a comedogenic rating of 2 and an irritancy rating of 3. These numbers come from testing the raw ingredient on rabbit ears and doesn't reflect how it will behave in a finished product.
In practice, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient. The ratings reflect cautious lab conditions and not real-world use. Just be sure to patch test any formulas you feel unsure about.
Learn more about Ceteareth-20Cetearyl 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 AlcoholCetyl Palmitate is a wax-ester that pulls triple duty as an emollient, thickener, and emulsion enhancer.
It helps enhance the texture of products by giving a smooth, silky feel while helping to stabilize the formula. The emollient action softens skin and reduces moisture loss.
This ingredient is considered safe and human testing of concentrations between 2.5-2.7% were found minimal irritation. Just know, there have been very rare cases of the palmitate family causing contact dermatitis.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it contains a C16 ester (palmitic acid) that falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about Cetyl PalmitateDisodium 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 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
