What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Glycerin, C14-22 Alcohols, Carbomer, Tromethamine, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Zinc PCA, Gluconolactone, Glucose, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyphenylsilsesquioxane
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Fusidium Coccineum Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Morinda Citrifolia Extract
AstringentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolybutene
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Tribehenin
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientGlyceryl Tribehenate/Isostearate/Eicosandioate
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glucose
Humectant
Ethylcellulose
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, CI 77891, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Zinc Oxide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Methicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Polyphenylsilsesquioxane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fusidium Coccineum Ferment Filtrate, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Tocopherol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polybutene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tribehenin, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Glyceryl Tribehenate/Isostearate/Eicosandioate, Magnesium Sulfate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Stearic Acid, Glucose, Ethylcellulose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Propanediol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Mica, CI 77491, CI 77288, CI 77492, CI 77499, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
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
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
