What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octadecenedioic Acid
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate-13
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Triethanolamine
BufferingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dextran
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Sodium Lactate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Octadecenedioic Acid, Polyacrylate-13, PEG-100 Stearate, Triethanolamine, Arachidyl Glucoside, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextran, Nonapeptide-1
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
2-Dimethylamino Ethanol
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Mea
BufferingIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tyrosine
MaskingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Urea
Buffering
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Ceteareth-20
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Thioctic Acid, 2-Dimethylamino Ethanol, Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Dimethyl Mea, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tyrosine, Glycolic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Urea, Phosphatidylcholine, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Acetyl Tyrosine, Pyridoxine Hcl, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Ceteareth-20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Zinc Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
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 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethyl Isosorbide is a low-irritation solvent that helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from glucose.
Research shows how well this ingredient works depends on the active and formulation rather than the concentration alone. This means adding more Dimethyl Isosorbide does not guarantee better penetration of ingredients into the skin.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlyceryl 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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
