What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingRibes Nigrum Leaf Extract
PerfumingHoney Extract
HumectantSolanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil
EmollientPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Seed Oil
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Diisostearyl Malate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tromethamine, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Myristyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lauryl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract, Honey Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXylitylglucoside
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantArginine
MaskingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPEG-32
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDisodium EDTA
Glucose
HumectantSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Maltodextrin
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Betaine, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xylitylglucoside, Xanthan Gum, Anhydroxylitol, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caffeine, PEG-32, Allantoin, Xylitol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Disodium EDTA, Glucose, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calcium Pantothenate, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Triethylhexanoin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide NP, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ceramide Ns, Silica, Chlorphenesin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCarbomer 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 CarbomerChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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