What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPCA Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPearl Extract
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Dimethicone
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarnosine
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantCysteine
AntioxidantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, PCA Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Pearl Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, Dimethicone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyisobutene, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Dipropylene Glycol, Carnosine, Maltodextrin, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Sorbitan Laurate, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Magnesium Chloride, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide NP, Phospholipids, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningRaffinose
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPiper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientBrassica Campestris Sprout Extract
HumectantBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningPearl Extract
AntioxidantSargassum Muticum Extract
Skin ProtectingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingUlva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingAgarum Cribrosum Extract
Skin ConditioningEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningSargassum Fulvellum Extract
Skin ConditioningPorphyra Yezoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingJania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningGelidium Amansii Extract
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientKjellmaniella Gyrata Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSargassum Fusiforme Extract
Skin ProtectingSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningPikea Robusta Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Algae Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Ulva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSoluble Collagen
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientLaureth-23
CleansingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingAlcohol
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-20
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLactobacillus/Algae Extract Ferment
Skin ProtectingMacrocystis Pyrifera Protein
Skin ConditioningAlgae Oligosaccharides
Skin ConditioningChlorella Ferment
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingAcetic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Methylpropanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Raffinose, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diglycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Pentylene Glycol, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Brassica Campestris Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Pearl Extract, Sargassum Muticum Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Agarum Cribrosum Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Gelidium Amansii Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Algae Extract, Kjellmaniella Gyrata Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sargassum Fusiforme Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Pikea Robusta Extract, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Hydrolyzed Ulva Lactuca Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Soluble Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, Mica, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-51, Glycosyl Trehalose, Laureth-4, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Laureth-23, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Xanthan Gum, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Alcohol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Adenosine, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbomer, Glycereth-20, Polysorbate 20, Lactobacillus/Algae Extract Ferment, Macrocystis Pyrifera Protein, Algae Oligosaccharides, Chlorella Ferment, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Acetic Acid, Lactic Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide 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 NPCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 StearateHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPearl Extract comes from, well, pearls. Pearls are harvested from oysters.
Pearls are rich in amino-acids, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and antioxidant compounds.
Two antioxidants found in pearls include: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione. Antioxidants aid in reducing the signs of aging.
Studies show pearls can aid in wound healing.
Pearls are harvested from oysters. To be vegan, an ingredient cannot be from an animal source.
Learn more about Pearl ExtractPentylene 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 GlycolPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water