What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylpropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Trisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Tapioca Starch, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Distarch Phosphate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Maltitol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbeth-6 Beeswax
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 65
Emulsifying
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Petrolatum
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carnitine Hcl
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Methylserine
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Aminobutyric Acid
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Dimethoxy Di-P-Cresol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Fucus Serratus Extract
Skin ProtectingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Zostera Marina Extract
Skin ConditioningPyracantha Fortuneana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Panthaica Root Extract
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butylene Glycol, Maltitol, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbeth-6 Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polysorbate 65, Cetyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Petrolatum, Cera Alba, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Carnitine Hcl, Glyceryl Stearate, Methylserine, Polysorbate 80, Aminobutyric Acid, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Acetyl Glucosamine, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Alcohol, Dimethoxy Di-P-Cresol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Limonene, Fucus Serratus Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Citronellol, Linalool, Zostera Marina Extract, Pyracantha Fortuneana Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Panthaica Root Extract, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Tocopherol
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 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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 Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
