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
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Rosa Multiflora Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Rosa Damascena Flower Wax
MaskingGlucose
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Rosa Multiflora Flower Extract, Beeswax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Arachidyl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Wax, Glucose, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Citric Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide 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 NPCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlucose 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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
