What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Xylitol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCholesterol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Tea-Lactate
HumectantUrea
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Chloride
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Calcium Chloride
AstringentCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-8
HumectantCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientDisodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Creatine
Skin ConditioningCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantArtemia Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingCetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Water, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Steareth-2, Boron Nitride, Xylitol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Steareth-21, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cholesterol, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Tea-Lactate, Urea, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Soluble Collagen, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Glucose, Mannitol, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate, Calcium Chloride, Ceramide NP, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-8, Carnosine, Potassium Phosphate, Allantoin, Algae Extract, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Creatine, CI 17200, Artemia Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Superoxide Dismutase, Tromethamine, Cetrimonium Bromide, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Citronellol, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, 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.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 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.
Potassium Phosphate is the term for the salts of potassium and phosphate ions. Our bodies naturally create and use potassium phosphate.
In cosmetics, potassium phosphate is used to adjust the pH level of products. Our skin has a natural pH level. Maintaining this pH level is important for our skin barrier. If the skin barrier is disrupted, our skin can experience dehydration and irritation.
This ingredient is used in medicine to help treat low blood levels of phosphorus.
Learn more about Potassium PhosphateSodium 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 Water
