What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Squalane
Emollient
Ceteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingDicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-25
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
Humectant
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTilia Cordata Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, C15-19 Alkane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Chlorphenesin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Potassium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Ceteareth-25, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, BHT, Lactobacillus, Pantolactone, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Ceramide Ns, Ethylhexylglycerin, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Lactose
HumectantCellulose
Absorbent
BHT
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Pantothenate
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Water, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Lactose, Cellulose, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, CI 77492, CI 73360, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Retinyl Palmitate, Calcium Pantothenate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Silica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 StearateMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxidePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
