What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Oleamide
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Propylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Oleamide, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Palmitic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985, CI 19140, CI 77891, Mica, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPolyaminopropyl Biguanide
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientKinetin
Skin ConditioningZeatin
Skin ConditioningPolyurethane-40
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrochloric Acid
BufferingWater, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Panthenol, Ethoxydiglycol, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Disodium EDTA, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Kinetin, Zeatin, Polyurethane-40, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrochloric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer 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 CarbomerCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlyceryl 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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaStearic 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 AcidTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
