What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tamarindus Indica Seed Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingCeteth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Water, Pentylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Tamarindus Indica Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide Ns, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tribehenin, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-75 Stearate, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Steareth-20, Ceteth-20, Polysorbate 20
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Eperua Falcata Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Ethyl Oleate, Niacinamide, Squalane, C12-16 Alcohols, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Maltodextrin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Ectoin, Tocopherol, Eperua Falcata Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytic Acid, Adenosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 BenzoateSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
