What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventOleyl Erucate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientBetula Alba Juice
AstringentCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Canola Oil
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingDecyl Alcohol
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Chloride
MaskingWater, C15-19 Alkane, Oleyl Erucate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Betula Alba Juice, Cetyl Palmitate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Juice, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Canola Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Sclerotium Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Xylitol, Cellulose Gum, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Decyl Alcohol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolThis ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
