What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTropolone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate
Skin ProtectingArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Stearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytosterols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Tropolone, Methyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate, Arginine, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
SolventBetaine
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Beta-Sitosterol 0.5%
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalane
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract
MoisturisingCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Water, Panthenol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Betaine, Octyldodecanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Beta-Sitosterol 0.5%, Squalane, Vinyldimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phytosterols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Adenosine, Cetearyl Olivate, Citric Acid, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Sodium Phytate, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglycerin-3, Butylene Glycol, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Nonapeptide-1, Carnosine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Carthamus tinctorius seed oil comes from safflower, one of humanity's oldest crops.
Safflower seed oil contains a high percentage of linoleic acid and oleic acid. It also contains Vitamin E. These three components are effective moisturizers.
Vitamin E helps nourish your skin's lipid barrier. It is also a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or unstable molecules that may damage your skin cells.
Due to its high fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe.
Thoughout history, safflower has been used for dying fabrics and in food as a saffron substitute.
Learn more about Carthamus Tinctorius Seed OilGlycerin (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 StearatePhytosterols are plant-derived sterols (you can think of them as the plant world's version of cholesterol). In cosmetics, this ingredient is usually sourced from soybean, rice bran, shea, sunflower, and other seed oils.
The main actors in this group are β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol (the CIR covers 27 phytosterols).
They work by fitting perfectly into your stratum corneum's lipid matrix since they're structurally similar to cholesterol. Here, they reinforce your skin's barrier.
One small in vivo human study showed topical soybean phytosterols sped up barrier recovery within three days on tape-stripped skin.
Broader research credits them with:
Formulation use typically sit under 5%.
Testing in soy-allergic subjects found no sensitization signals, but be sure to patch test if you are unsure or have existing allergies.
Learn more about PhytosterolsPropanediol 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 PropanediolStearic 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 AcidWater. 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
