What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDistearyldimonium Chloride
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantSqualene
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantStearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, 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 ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
Cleansing4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingBis-Stearyl Dimethicone
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEDTA
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingWater, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Gluconolactone, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Steareth-21, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Bisabolol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, EDTA, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCetearyl 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 AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEDTA is the shortened name for ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. It is a chelating agent and used to stabilize products.
Chelating Agents are used to prevent trace metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This can prevent unwanted reactions or changed efficacy of products.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 StearatePolysorbate 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 60Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxidePyrus Malus Fruit Extract is extract from Apples. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, sugars, and antioxidants.
The sugar in Apples are humectants and help hydrate the skin. On top of that, apples also contain some acids, such as malic acid. These acids may have a mild exfoliating effect.
Last, the phytochemicals found in apples are strong antioxidants. These antioxidants help with anti-aging as they protect your skin cells against oxidative damage.
Learn more about Pyrus Malus Fruit ExtractSteareth-21 is a nonionic emulsifier made by reacting stearyl alcohol with 21 units of ethylene oxide. It is mainly a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
The "21" in the name just tells you it has a longer water-loving chain. This makes it more gentle and less likely to irritate skin compared to lower-numbered steareths.
You'll most likely see it paired with steareth-2 because the two work together to create stable formulations.
1,4-dioxane is often brought up as a concern but this is usually removed through purification.
Learn more about Steareth-21Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterZingiber Officinale is more commonly known as ginger.
Ginger root has antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties.
The antioxidant properties help protect your body from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a result, ginger may help slow down signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Studies show ginger inhibits the enzyme that breaks down collagen. It also helps with:
This ingredient has no negative side-effects and is safe to use unless one has a specific allergy to it.
Ginger originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It is now a common spice used in many cultures.
Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract