What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Pentapeptide-16
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingCholecalciferol
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningC18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-16, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide EOP, Allantoin, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Cholecalciferol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Beta-Glucan
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Pantolactone
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHeptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Trimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, C12-16 Alcohols, Panthenol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Pantolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Malt Extract, Ceramide Ns, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer 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 AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCeramide EOP is formally known as Ceramide 1 and Ceramide 1 A.
EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin. They bind dead skin cells together to create a barrier. The ceramides in our skin have the ability to hold water to keep our skin hydrated.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A strong skin barrier helps with:
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here:
Learn more about Ceramide EOPCeramide 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 NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolPhytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosineWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum