What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientXylitol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantCholesterol
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlycosphingolipids
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Raffinose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Trehalose, Glyceryl Glucoside, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xylitylglucoside, Ceramide NP, Anhydroxylitol, Glucose, Sucrose Stearate, Xylitol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sucrose Palmitate, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Cholesterol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycosphingolipids, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Mannose
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
