What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Squalene
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
Antioxidant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Jojoba Esters, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glyceryl Stearate, Steareth-21, Cetyl Alcohol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Squalene, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Butylene Glycol, Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylparaben, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, EDTA, Tocopherol, Potassium Hydroxide, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Whey Protein, Ubiquinone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Vinyldimethicone
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Cicer Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingPentasodium Pentetate
Propanediol
Solvent
Rhododendron Chrysanthum Leaf Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingXylitol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Olivate, Beeswax, Vinyldimethicone, Anhydroxylitol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Cicer Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Pentasodium Pentetate, Propanediol, Rhododendron Chrysanthum Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tocopherol, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Trideceth-10, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside
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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearateTocopherol 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
