What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyacrylamide
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Steareth-20
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-94
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-95
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Polyacrylamide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Laureth-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylparaben, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Polyacrylate, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Steareth-20, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Dipeptide-2, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-94, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-95, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cera Alba
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Escin
TonicPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Rhamnose, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, PEG-40 Stearate, Cera Alba, Pentylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Tristearate, Triethanolamine, Caffeine, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Myristyl Alcohol, Escin, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Poloxamer 338, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 StearatePalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopheryl 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 Water
