What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCI 77891
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMoroccan Lava Clay
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSuccinic Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingGlucose
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSilica
AbrasiveFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingGellan Gum
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, CI 77004, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Propanediol, CI 77891, 1,2-Hexanediol, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Moroccan Lava Clay, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Bicarbonate, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Gluconolactone, Succinic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hydroxystearic Acid, Glucose, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Silica, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Oleanolic Acid, Tromethamine, Gellan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Sodium Phytate, Caffeine, Carbomer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantPalmitic Acid
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Extract
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicHyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningArachidic Acid
CleansingSodium Phytate
Polyquaternium-7
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingGlycerin, Water, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Cocoate, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Borago Officinalis Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Ceramide NP, Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Oleic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Arachidic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Polyquaternium-7, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasnāt been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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