What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sucrose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Dimethicone, C12-16 Alcohols, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium DNA, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycosyl Trehalose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Cellulose Gum, Glycol Stearate Se, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Adenosine, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Sucrose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Pentylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tripeptide-1, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Caprate
EmollientAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Polysorbate 60, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Caprate
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.
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 preservatives
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 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 ButterCetearyl 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 Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Glyceryl 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 StearateHydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic emollient. It forms a non-occlusive film on the skin's surface to provide a silky feel without being greasy.
In vivo studies in volunteers with atopic and dry skin showed no irritation or intolerance. The volunteers also saw a positive effect in dryness, scaling, and roughness after 28 days of use.
Concentrations up to 100% in guinea pig tests found it to be non-sensitizing and completely safe for use in cosmetics.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydecenePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
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 60Sodium 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 Hyaluronate
