What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Trehalose
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Glycol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Trehalose, Ectoin, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Panthenol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glycine Soja Oil, Inulin, Cellulose, Fructose, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Glycereth-26
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingHelichrysum Stoechas Extract
TonicCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycereth-26, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Bakuchiol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Oleate, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Panthenol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Butylene Glycol, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Helichrysum Stoechas Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Oligopeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-1, Retinol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 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
