Water. 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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Butylene Glycol

Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene 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 Glycol

Glycerin

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol

Cetearyl Glucoside

Emulsifying

Cetearyl Glucoside is a surfactant and emulsifier. It can be produced from synthetic of natural sources of cetearyl alcohol and glucose.

Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters. It can also be used to enhance the texture of products.

As a surfactant, Cetearyl Glucoside helps during the cleansing process. By gathering all the dirt and oils, it allows these molecules to be washed away easily.

Learn more about Cetearyl Glucoside

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient, Emulsifying

Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.

It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.

As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.

In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.

This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe

Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate

Sorbitan Stearate

Emulsifying

Sorbitan Stearate comes from sorbitol and stearic acid. Sorbitol is a type of sugar and stearic acid is a fatty acid.

It is used as an emulsifier and helps ingredients stay together by creating water-in-oil emulsions.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Ingredient Ratings

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.

Beta Glucan Daily Moisture Cream

When to use

iUNIK Beta Glucan Daily Moisture Cream 29 ingredients

Pyunkang Yul ATO Cream Blue Label 31 ingredients

296 Routines

52% use in am

48% use in pm

95% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

77 Routines

27% use in am

70% use in pm

91% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

iUNIK Beta Glucan Daily Moisture Cream 29 ingredients

3.3 /5

from 12 ratings

No Scent (5) Light (4) Great Value (3)

neika

7 months ago

Review

pretty good! very simple and safe moisturizer but may not be enough for dryer skin types.

#great value

#light

#absorbs well

#no scent

iUNIK

Beta Glucan Daily Moisture Cream

Auria

8 months ago

Review

This moisturiser has a gel like texture and it is quite hydrating even though I have dry skin but this sits well on my face. I like how it isn’t too moisturising which is perfect for me as I prefer using a lighter cream before applying sunscreen for my AM routine so it doesn’t feel too heavy on my skin. However, it is not hydrating enough for those with super dry skin. I have used this moisturiser Show more

#great value

#hydrating

#light

#absorbs well

iUNIK

Beta Glucan Daily Moisture Cream

Pyunkang Yul ATO Cream Blue Label 31 ingredients

2.6 /5

from 5 ratings

Heavy (3) Doesn't Work (2) Great Value (1)

Kassia

3 months ago

Review

Had such high hopes for this but was sorely disappointed :(

When I first used it, it took forever to dissolve into my skin, almost like a mineral sunscreen. Once dissolved, it didn't seem to sink deep into my skin/provide moisture at all, instead feeling like an oily film sitting on top of my face.

I considered that I had maybe used too much on my face---while it did dissolve better into my Show more

#drying

#oily

#doesn't work