What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract
HumectantAngelica Archangelica Root Extract
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Tromethamine
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bear Oil
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methyl Trimethicone, Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Tromethamine, Palmitic Acid, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Tocopherol, Bear Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Squalane, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Sodium PCA, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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
