What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlyceryl Isostearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantStearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Plumeria Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Gigantea Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMomordica Grosvenorii Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glyceryl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-8, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Plumeria Alba Flower Extract, Nymphaea Gigantea Flower Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Momordica Grosvenorii Fruit Extract, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, PEG-4 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Citric Acid
Buffering
PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauryl Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Citric Acid, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coco-Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Niacinamide, Ceramide As, Panthenol, Ceramide Ns, Salicylic Acid, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Stearic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 BenzoateStearic 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 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 Water
