What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingDimethiconol
Emollient
Carrageenan
Sucrose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phytosphingosine, Oleic Acid, Lactic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Dimethiconol, Carrageenan, Sucrose, Betaine, Allantoin, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 19140
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
Carrageenan comes from red seaweed or algae. It is made up of polysaccharides and a highly flexible compound. Red algae cell walls are rich in carrageenan.
In cosmetics, it helps to thicken the texture. Studies show carrageenan extracted from red algae possess antioxidant properties. Components found in carrageenan include: lipids, fatty acids, Vitamin E, proteins, and several amino acids.
Learn more about different types of algae.
Carrageenan is also commonly used in medicine and food. It is a vegan alternative to animal-based gelatin.
Learn more about CarrageenanHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolWater. 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
