What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientBis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientPCA Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Palmitic Acid
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentParfum
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningRaffinose
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea
EmollientHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract
HumectantGlycine Max Oil
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCanola Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Methyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, PCA Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Palmitic Acid, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dextrin, Parfum, Lactobacillus Ferment, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Raffinose, Ceramide NP, Hibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract, Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Tocopherol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Glycine Max Oil, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Canola Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingMentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantSucrose
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Chamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Sucrose, Cholesterol, Glycereth-26, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Tocopherol, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycolCeramide 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 NPDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 LecithinStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinās lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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