What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Polycitronellol
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Domestica Seed Extract
EmollientDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientC28-52 Olefin/Undecylenic Acid Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Behenyl Behenate
EmollientTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Betulin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether
CleansingOryzanol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sucrose Cocoate, Polycitronellol, Behenyl Alcohol, Prunus Domestica Seed Extract, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, C28-52 Olefin/Undecylenic Acid Copolymer, Propanediol, Behenyl Behenate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Betulin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether, Oryzanol, Xanthan Gum, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phospholipids, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Ceramide NP, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ceramide AP, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sphingolipids, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Oleic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, P-Anisic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polysilicone-11
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitamide Mea
Cholesterol
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Avenanthramides
Antioxidant
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Decyl Glucoside, Polysilicone-11, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Bisabolol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Palmitamide Mea, Cholesterol, Myristic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Avenanthramides, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Laureth-7, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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
