What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Niacinamide
SmoothingBehenyl Olivate
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Glycerin
HumectantStearyl Behenate
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingBehenic Acid
CleansingCetyl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Stearate
EmollientHoney Extract
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingBoswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPollen Extract
EmollientLevan
Skin ProtectingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingZiziphus Jujuba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBee Venom
AstringentCitric Acid
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Octyldodecanol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecyl Olivate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Niacinamide, Behenyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Glycerin, Stearyl Behenate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Behenic Acid, Cetyl Stearate, Stearyl Stearate, Honey Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pollen Extract, Levan, Decyl Glucoside, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Propolis Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ziziphus Jujuba Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bee Venom, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Madecassoside, Parfum, Limonene, Citral, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geraniol
Propolis Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingHoney Extract
HumectantRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Tangerina Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Phytate
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingBoswellia Carterii Oil
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
EmulsifyingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil
MaskingGlucose
HumectantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPropolis Extract, Water, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters, Honey Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Palmitic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C12-16 Alcohols, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Lactobacillus Ferment, Saccharomyces Ferment, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Octyldodecanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Oleate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil, Glucose, Glycolipids, Glycosphingolipids, Tocopherol
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient comes from honey made by bees. It is hydrating, antibacterial, anti-aging, and skin soothing.
Honey also contains amino acids, peptides, Vitamins A, C, and E.
The humectant property of honey draws moisture from the air to your skin. This makes it great at helping to hydrate the skin.
Honey may help reduce the signs of aging due to its antioxidant properties. Fun fact: darker honey has more antioxidants than light honey. The antibacterial property of honey may make it effective at helping to treat acne by killing acne-causing bacteria.
Many people wonder if honey extract is vegan. It is technically a byproduct from bees. This is because honey is created from the digestive enzymes in a bee's stomach.
Remember to be kind to bees :) They are important for many ecosystems and are endangered.
Learn more about Honey ExtractOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Propolis Extract is a natural ingredient derived from propolis (also known as bee glue). Bees make propolis by mixing their saliva and beeswax with resins collected from tree buds and plants.
This ingredient is packed with bioactive compounds like flavonoids, phenolic acids, and amino acids that give it antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Research shows it can help:
It also pairs nicely with hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides.
Just so you know, Propolis Extract is recognized as a contact allergen. In patch tests done in the EU, roughly 1-6% of patients react to it. Be sure to steer clear of this ingredient if you have a known allergy to bee products.
Since it is an animal-derived product, this ingredient is not considered vegan. For vegan alternatives, check out Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate or Centella Asiatica Extract.
Learn more about Propolis ExtractRoyal Jelly Extract comes from a secretion made by worker honeybees. This secretion is white and described as creamy.
This compound has antibacterial, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Studies show Royal Jelly to contain amino acids, fatty acids, and a variety of vitamins, including Vitamin Bs. Many of these components are antioxidants, which help with anti-aging. The fatty acids in Royal Jelly make it a hydrating ingredient.
Several animal studies show Royal Jelly to boost collagen production and reduce inflammation.
The Vitamin Bs found in Royal Jelly include:
Royal Jelly is derived from honeybees. This means it is not vegan.
Learn more about Royal Jelly ExtractWater. 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