What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Erythritol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Erythritol, Sorbitol, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Trehalose, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Zinc PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Mandelic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate
HumectantLactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Diisostearyl Malate, Vinyldimethicone, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearateHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
