What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningPotassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bisabolol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phosphatidylcholine, Lecithin, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Coco-Glucoside, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydrogenated Lanolin
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientCeteth-20
CleansingEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Decyloxazolidinone
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Steareth-25
CleansingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-21
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlgin
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydrogenated Lanolin, Squalane, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Ceteth-20, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Betaine, Decyloxazolidinone, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Parfum, Steareth-25, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Steareth-21, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Xylitylglucoside, Sorbitol, Linalool, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Algin, Xylitol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Cellulose Gum, Tocopherol, BHT
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 StearatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl 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
