What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantVinyldimethicone
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentArginine
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Vinyldimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Adenosine, Carbomer, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEmulsifying Wax Nf
Palmitic Acid
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCeteareth-20
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Titanium Dioxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 PanthenolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water