What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isohexadecane
EmollientHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Octyldodecanol, Caprylyl Methicone, Betaine, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Dimethiconol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isobutane
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingCalcium Pantetheine Sulfonate
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentMannitol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Disodium Succinate
MaskingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylonitrile
Vp/Va Copolymer
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Water, Squalane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Myristyl Myristate, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Octyldodecanol, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Isobutane, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Calcium Pantetheine Sulfonate, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristyl Alcohol, Cyclodextrin, Mannitol, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Succinate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Faex Extract, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Acrylonitrile, Vp/Va Copolymer, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 15985, Linalool, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Limonene, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine helps your skin create more ceramides. This ingredient has been shown to boost skin hydration and improve the skin barrier.
Your skin has an outermost layer called the stratum corneum. This is known as your skin barrier.
Your skin barrier consists of cholesterol (25%), free fatty acids (15%), and ceramides (50-60%). A healthy skin barrier is the key to hydrated and plump skin. Your skin is able to retain more moisture with a nourished barrier.
Although small, the skin barrier prevents bacteria and other bad things from going into our bodies. A damaged skin barrier can lead to itchy and dry skin, acne, or bacterial/viral/fungal skin infections.
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine tells your skin to create more ceramides. This helps fortify your skin barrier. Having a strong skin barrier leads to hydrated and healthy skin. More good news? You don't need a high amount of this ingredient to see benefits.
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine is created from a chemical reaction using an amino alcohol (dihydrosphingosine) and a fatty acid palmitic acid (2- 11 bromohexadecanoic acid).
Other ingredients that tell your skin to create more ceramide:
Learn more about Hydroxypalmitoyl SphinganineIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecaneOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
