What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Tromethamine
BufferingAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientLauryl Lactate
EmollientPolysilicone-15
UV Filter
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethyl Capramide
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
C13-15 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyether-1
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Silica, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Tromethamine, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Lauryl Lactate, Polysilicone-15, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethyl Capramide, Phenethyl Benzoate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyether-1, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Adenosine, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Glycerin, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Myristate
EmulsifyingAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Stearate
CleansingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientArachidic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
Cleansing
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Heparin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Potassium Myristate, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Stearic Acid, Potassium Stearate, Myristic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Coco-Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sorbitol, Potassium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Arachidic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Oleic Acid, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Lauric Acid, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tranexamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Heparin
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
Red onion extract? This ingredient not only benefits our diet but also offers numerous benefits for the skin.
Like many other plant extracts, red onion is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. The red color of the onion comes from its high anthocyanin content - and anthocyanin is a potent antioxidant.
Besides being rich in antioxidants, red onions also contain sulfur, sugars, Vitamin C, and biotin.
A study from 2018 found onion extract to be just as effective as healing surgical scars as traditional silicone gel.
Another study from 2008 showed using this ingredient helped reduce surgical scar texture, redness, and overall appearance in 60 patients.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient can help with the following:
Another manufacturer from Spain claims onion extract can inhibit the release of allergy hormones and prostaglandin, or lipids found near tissue damage and infection spots.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Allium Cepa Bulb ExtractButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (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 StearatePalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateStearic 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.
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
