What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-20 Stearate
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
Palmitic Acid
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientGuanosine
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantSecale Cereale Seed Extract
AbrasiveSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyacrylamide
Dimethiconol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTin Oxide
AbrasiveBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingMyristic Acid
CleansingGeraniol
PerfumingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-20 Stearate, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Octyldodecanol, CI 77891, CI 16035, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Guanosine, Mica, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Caffeine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyacrylamide, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Pentylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tin Oxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Myristic Acid, Geraniol, Laureth-7, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientIsostearyl Neopentanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantOryza Sativa Powder
Squalane
EmollientIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Escin
TonicPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Citrate
BufferingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytic Acid
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrochloric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isododecane, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-8, Oryza Sativa Powder, Squalane, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Cera Alba, Jojoba Esters, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Caprylyl Glycol, Phospholipids, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Escin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Beta-Sitosterol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Polyacrylate, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrochloric Acid, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AdenosineCaprylyl 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 StearateHydrolyzed Soy Protein is a vegan protein made to mimic hydrolyzed collagen. It is created from soy, or glycine soja.
This ingredient is a humectant, meaning it helps hydrate the skin by binding to water. According to a manufacturer, it is also a great hair conditioner.
Read more about hydrolyzed collagen here.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Soy ProteinPeg-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.
Pentylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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