What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningVinyldimethicone
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingSodium Phytate
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Vinyldimethicone, C14-22 Alcohols, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Diglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tromethamine, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventCaffeine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Glucoside, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Caffeine, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidWe don't have a description for C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside yet.
C14-22 Alcohols is made up of synthetic fatty alcohols. More specifically, these fatty alcohols contain 14 to 22 carbons in the alkyl chain.
Its main purpose is to stabilize products. As an emulsifier, it helps prevent waters and oils from separating.
Due to this ingredient having a similar composition to cetearyl alcohol, this ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe. However, the risk is low and has been only shown by a single study, so SkinSort does not currently flag C14-22 Alcohols as a fungal acne trigger.
Learn more about C14-22 AlcoholsCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl 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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePentylene 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 GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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