What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Trehalose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantInulin
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Polyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Benzyl Glycol
SolventSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethyl Oleate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Maltodextrin, Sodium PCA, Ectoin, Betaine, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Manganese PCA, Inulin, Cellulose, Fructose, Glucose, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Polyglucuronic Acid, Parfum, Raspberry Ketone, Benzyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Decyl Glucoside, Ceramide NP, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alcohol, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl 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 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
