What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentSqualane
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantRubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningAlumina
AbrasiveIsostearic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantClimbazole
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningDipteryx Odorata Bean Extract
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDecylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cyclodextrin, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Alumina, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Retinal, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Polyaspartate, Climbazole, Disodium EDTA, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Decylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, BHT, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientSteareth-20
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentBuddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningRetinol 0.5%
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAcrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasivePolyisobutene
Butylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Sericin
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSodium Sulfite
PreservativeAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthyl Nicotinate
PerfumingCaprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingDextran
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Steareth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Retinol 0.5%, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 20, Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Bisabolol, Carbomer, Silica, Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sericin, Phospholipids, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beta-Glucan, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethyl Nicotinate, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Dextran, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 60730, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Limonene
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.
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 preservatives
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDisodium 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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