What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Avena Strigosa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Lecithin
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Jojoba Esters, PEG-100 Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Avena Strigosa Seed Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lecithin, Parfum, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Kaolin
Abrasive
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phytosteryl Glucoside/Glucosylceramide
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Oleate
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-5 Laurate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Coco-Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Myristyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Squalane, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Phytosteryl Glucoside/Glucosylceramide, Sodium Oleate, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide EOP, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-5 Laurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearatePalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidStearic 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
