What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingVinyldimethicone
Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSucrose Polystearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingCaesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCalcium Chloride
AstringentMagnesium Sulfate
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantTrehalose
HumectantBetaine
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantMadecassoside
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Panthenol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Vinyldimethicone, Beeswax, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sucrose Polystearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetyl Palmitate, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Trehalose, Betaine, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSqualane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
HumectantGlyceryl Arachidonate
EmollientGlyceryl Linoleate
EmollientGlyceryl Linolenate
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingSerine
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine
BufferingLecithin
EmollientSodium Phytate
Arginine
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Panthenol, Stearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Mannitol, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters, Serine, Xanthan Gum, Glycine, Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Arginine
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
Butylene 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, antiāinflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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