What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Myristate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycol
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Myristyl Myristate, Squalane, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Pentylene Glycol, Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetyl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Sodium Caproyl Prolinate
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Stearate, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Caproyl Prolinate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sodium Gluconate, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Nonapeptide-1, Disodium Phosphate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
