What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPetrolatum
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDistearyldimonium Chloride
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantBoswellia Serrata Gum
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingStearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSteareth-21
CleansingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Petrolatum, Jojoba Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Bisabolol, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 60, Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Steareth-21, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinPetrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.
This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.
Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.
The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.
Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.
Petrolatum is fungal acne safe. It is a hydrocarbon with no fatty acid structure, so Malassezia cannot metabolize it. In-vitro studies support negligible growth stimulation as well.
It's also worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.
Learn more about PetrolatumWater. 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