What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantVolcanic Ash
AbrasivePolyvinyl Alcohol
Bentonite
AbsorbentKaolin
AbrasiveCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPvp
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingJuglans Regia Shell Powder
AbrasiveSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPolyacrylate-13
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantMannitol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingPolyisobutene
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingTetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Tocopherol
AntioxidantWater, CI 77891, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Glycerin, Trehalose, Volcanic Ash, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Kaolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pvp, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, CI 77499, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Xanthan Gum, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Sorbitan Stearate, Zea Mays Starch, Polyacrylate-13, Polysorbate 20, CI 77492, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Lactic Acid, Polyisobutene, CI 77491, Menthoxypropanediol, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Powder
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientOryza Sativa Hull Powder
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingBetaine
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientAcetophenone
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Powder, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Oryza Sativa Hull Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Synthetic Wax, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Acetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
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 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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateSorbitan Stearate is an emulsifier made by reacting sorbitol with stearic acid.
It's mostly used to keep oil and water mixed so your formulas stay smooth and stable.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has found 4% of this ingredient in repeat-insult patch tests on humans to be non-sensitizing. There is a caveat that some reactions have shown up in patients with damaged or diseased skin.
Because it is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it falls into the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. This means this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan StearateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
This ingredient does have a comedogenic rating of 2-3, but this doesn't mean a formula with this ingredient will clog pores.
Human testing has proved that any finished product with this ingredient won't automatically make you break out; it really comes down to concentration, formula, and your skin.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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