What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Hexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCaesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Kernel Extract
MoisturisingLindera Strychnifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Extract
EmollientCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
AntimicrobialDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Hexylresorcinol, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract, Prunus Persica Kernel Extract, Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Nonapeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Dextrin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate-13, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPhytonadione
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Glycol Distearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Phytonadione, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Steareth-20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCeramide EOP is formally known as Ceramide 1.
It is naturally found in skin and part of the intercellular "mortar" holding everything together in your outermost layer.
EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
What makes Ceramide EOP special is its ultra-long fatty acid chain; this unique structure allows it to bridge the lipid layers in your skin barrier to prevent water loss (something no other ceramide can do).
Low levels of Ceramide EOP have been found in people with eczema and psoriasis.
Using it together with other ceramides, cholesterol, and linoleic acid have been shown to meaningfully improve hydration and reduce water loss.
In one clinical study, a regimen using Ceramide EOP, NP, and AP led to significant symptom improvements in patients with eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin in just 4 weeks.
You'll usually see concentrations between 0.1-0.5% in formulations. Overall, this is a well-tolerated and safe ingredient for cosmetic use.
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 NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is also known as pal-GHK. It is made up of 3 amino acids and palmitic acid, a fatty acid that helps it absorb into skin more easily.
This peptide is as a signal peptide, meaning it tells the skin to produce more collagen. Collagen is the key protein that helps form the skin's structure and keep it plump, firm, and hydrated.
By boosting collagen production, this ingredient supports a stronger skin barrier and helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
You'll most likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex. While results from in-house testing should be viewed cautiously, this peptide duo is among the most studied and widely used in modern skincare.
Due to its palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be safe for Malassezia folliculitis.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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