What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPiper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningRaffinose
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Lecithin
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantIsomalt
HumectantMagnesium Chloride
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Methylpropanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycereth-26, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetyl Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Trehalose, Pentylene Glycol, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycosyl Trehalose, Tromethamine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Adenosine, Raffinose, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Polyquaternium-51, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Folic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Isomalt, Magnesium Chloride, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 77491, Citronellol, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Water, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Alternatives
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 PanthenolPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is a plant-derived emulsifier whose only job is to keep the oily and watery parts of a formula blended so it doesn't separate into layers.
It's compatible with a wide-range of active ingredients and especially good at making emulsions survive heat/freeze cycles.
Typical use concentrations range from 2-3% and it works across a pH of 4.5-8.5.
This ingredient has been found safe to use in cosmetics and has a low irritation profile.
Because it's build on stearic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that falls within the range (C11-24) that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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