What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientAroma
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Phytate
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Triacetin
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycereth-26, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Linoleic Acid, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Linolenic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Citrate, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Aroma, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Phytate, Hyaluronic Acid, Triacetin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 15985, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Musa Sapientum Water
Skin ConditioningMagnesium PCA
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aroma
Water, Glycerin, Coconut Alkanes, Squalane, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Musa Sapientum Water, Magnesium PCA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diheptyl Succinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Aroma
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aroma refers to an ingredient, or mixture of ingredients, that impart or mask a flavor.
The name is slightly confusing. This is because INCI associates aroma with flavor instead of smell.
Here is the official definition from the The International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook:
“Aroma is a term for ingredient labeling used to identify that a product contains a material or combination of materials normally added to a cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular flavor.”
INCI shows the only purpose of aroma to be "flavouring".
However, due to regulation differences, some companies may use aroma in place of parfum.
In Canada, this ingredient only has to be listed in concentrations above 1%.
Learn more about AromaCetearyl 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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
