What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Diglycerin
Humectant
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Diglycerin, Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetyl Palmitate, Cocoglycerides, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Citral, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningIsoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Brassica Glycerides
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Isoamyl Laurate, Squalane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyglycerin-3, Brassica Glycerides, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, 2,3-Butanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ng, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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.
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 AlcoholThis extract comes from cucumber. Cucumbers are mostly made up of water (95%), and the other 5% is composed of: vitamin C, caffeic acid, fatty acids, amino acids, and other minerals.
Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory, barrier repair, and hydrating properties.
They contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin.
The amino acids found in cucumbers help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle (it's an important part of our skin barrier). This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, this is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Fun fact: Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 StearateSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
