What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Colloidal Oatmeal 2%
AbsorbentWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingPolysilicone-11
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDistearyldimonium Chloride
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Laureth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-23
CleansingLaureth-12
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningColloidal Oatmeal 2%, Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Polysilicone-11, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Beeswax, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Laureth-12, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Hydrocortisone 1%
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDextrin
AbsorbentCetyl Alcohol
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Serrata Gum
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingBisabolol
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMethylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativePolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingHydrocortisone 1%, Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dextrin, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Bisabolol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Maltodextrin, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Citrate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium 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 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.
Water. 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 WaterZingiber Officinale is more commonly known as ginger.
Ginger root has antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties.
The antioxidant properties help protect your body from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a result, ginger may help slow down signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Studies show ginger inhibits the enzyme that breaks down collagen. It also helps with:
This ingredient has no negative side-effects and is safe to use unless one has a specific allergy to it.
Ginger originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It is now a common spice used in many cultures.
Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract