What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventSqualane
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingGlucose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantGuaiazulene
AntimicrobialPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Methylpropanediol, Squalane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Vinyldimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Trimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Arachidyl Glucoside, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Glucose, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Guaiazulene, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycereth-26
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Tromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingFragaria Vesca Fruit
AstringentWater, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Disodium EDTA, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
This is a lightweight diester (caprylic/capric acid + butylene glycol) with emollient and skin conditioning properties.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient can help add a "cushiony" oil phase without making it heavy.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 PanthenolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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