What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientTribehenin
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Glycerin
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingTrimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIron Oxides
Water, 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, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearyl Stearate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGalactoarabinan
Sodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeNylon-6
Papaver Somniferum Seed Oil
EmollientCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLecithin
EmollientDipteryx Odorata Seed Extract
MaskingTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAframomum Melegueta Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingHelichrysum Italicum Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Ozokerite, Cera Microcristallina, Stearic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Galactoarabinan, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Nylon-6, Papaver Somniferum Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Tocopherol, Silica, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Aframomum Melegueta Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, 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.
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 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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 (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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