What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Wine Extract
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Pullulan
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycerin, Isododecane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Saccharide Isomerate, Coco-Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Polysorbate 60, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Wine Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Pullulan, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polyglutamic Acid, Silica, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Ceramide EOP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSqualane
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Vegetable Oil, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Olivate, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, C12-16 Alcohols, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Squalane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Cellulose Gum, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cholesterol, Fructooligosaccharides, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Carnosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Guaiazulene, Arginine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Oligopeptide-1
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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 Water
