What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Mannose
HumectantGlutathione
Oligopeptide-29
Antioxidant
Oligopeptide-32
Antiseborrhoeic
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Trehalose, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbomer, Arginine, Sorbitan Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Sucrose Cocoate, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Phytosterols, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Soluble Collagen, Glucose, Mannose, Glutathione, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Petrolatum
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingMalic Acid
Buffering
Polyacrylamide
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingAllium Fistulosum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningBentonite
Absorbent
Camphor
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chlamydomonas Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Cholesterol
Emollient
Citral
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil
Masking
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Octanal
Perfuming
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Pinene
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Chloride
Propanediol
Solvent
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSea Salt
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSqualene
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Beeswax, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Malic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Allium Fistulosum Bulb Extract, Bentonite, Camphor, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Chlamydomonas Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Chlorphenesin, Cholesterol, Citral, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrated Silica, Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Lactic Acid, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lecithin, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Maltodextrin, Octanal, Octyldodecanol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Pentylene Glycol, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Pinene, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Potassium Chloride, Propanediol, Quercetin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sea Salt, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Squalene, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide 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 NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosinePhytosterols are plant-derived sterols (you can think of them as the plant world's version of cholesterol). In cosmetics, this ingredient is usually sourced from soybean, rice bran, shea, sunflower, and other seed oils.
The main actors in this group are β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol (the CIR covers 27 phytosterols).
They work by fitting perfectly into your stratum corneum's lipid matrix since they're structurally similar to cholesterol. Here, they reinforce your skin's barrier.
One small in vivo human study showed topical soybean phytosterols sped up barrier recovery within three days on tape-stripped skin.
Broader research credits them with:
Formulation use typically sit under 5%.
Testing in soy-allergic subjects found no sensitization signals, but be sure to patch test if you are unsure or have existing allergies.
Learn more about PhytosterolsWater. 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
