What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Pvp, Stearic Acid, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Cellulose, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Polyester-5
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Rosinate
Perfuming
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Dibehenate
Emollient
Empetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth-12 Sulfate
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose
Absorbent
Hectorite
AbsorbentGlycerin
Humectant
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-8
HumectantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Polyester-5, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Rosinate, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Empetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice, Betaine, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose, Hectorite, Glycerin, C11-15 Pareth-7, PEG-8, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, CI 77007, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Aminomethyl Propanediol yet.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CelluloseCi 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Glycerin (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.
Stearic 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 AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
