What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
HumectantC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Soy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSorbitol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientPullulan
Trihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
AbrasiveWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-16 Alcohols, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Panthenol, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Yeast Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Soy Amino Acids, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucomannan, Tocopherol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Trihydroxystearin, CI 15985, Silica
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Betaine, Methyl Trimethicone, Ceramide NP, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, CI 19140
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPanthenol 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 PanthenolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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