What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPalmitic Acid
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Myristic Acid
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Trimethicone, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Panthenol, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Menthoxypropanediol, Adenosine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, Myristic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Butylene Glycol, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantLactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolygonum Bistorta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Pantolactone
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlumina
AbrasiveTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mica, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Pantolactone, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Tin Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created by fermenting sorbitol (which usually comes from potato starch!). It is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Manufacturer tests show this ingredient helped reduce irritation from lactic acid by almost half and kept skin hydrated long-term as a humectant
Beyond hydration, Biosaccharide Gum-1 gives formulas a silky, non-sticky feel.
This ingredient is gentle, versatile, and suitable for all skin types.
Fun fact: Similar sugars can be found naturally in fruits like apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Butylene 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolStearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water