What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantVinyldimethicone
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Soymilk
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diglycerin, Vinyldimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Soymilk, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingIsododecane
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
EmollientPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSilica
AbrasiveCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingPEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialLactic Acid
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Isododecane, Beeswax, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Ceramide EOP, Tribehenin, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Carbomer, Propylene Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Lactic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide 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 NPDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopherol 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