What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Cetyl Alcohol, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycolipids, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Laurate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Caffeine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylpropanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carbomer, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide EOP is formally known as Ceramide 1 and Ceramide 1 A.
EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin. They bind dead skin cells together to create a barrier. The ceramides in our skin have the ability to hold water to keep our skin hydrated.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A strong skin barrier helps with:
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here:
Learn more about Ceramide EOPCeramide 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 NPCholesterol 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 CholesterolEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearateGlyceryl Stearate Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitrateSorbitan Sesquioleate is derived from sorbitol and oleic acid. It is an emulsifier and prevents ingredients from separating.
Specifically, this ingredient is a water-in-oil emulsifier, meaning it helps water dissolve into oil.
Some studies suggest this ingredient may cause irritation in some people. If you are unsure, it is best to patch test.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan SesquioleateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
