What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Arachis Hypogaea Flour
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentBuddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Magnesium Silicate
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Retinyl Palmitate, Arachis Hypogaea Flour, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Behenyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-32
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentParfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polycaprolactone
StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
PEG-75
HumectantPolyquaternium-10
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, PEG-32, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Lauric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polycaprolactone, CI 77891, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactic Acid, PEG-75, Polyquaternium-10, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Papain, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Disodium 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 AcidPotassium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
