What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Callus Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract
Antimicrobial
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Extract
AstringentTriticum Aestivum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningVinyldimethicone
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPhytic Acid
Propanediol
Solvent
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Dextrin
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glycine Soja Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientAvena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Callus Extract, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethylhexanoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Jojoba Esters, Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Extract, Triticum Aestivum Peptide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Water, Vinyldimethicone, Panthenol, Pvp, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Adenosine, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Phytic Acid, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Dextrin, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Squalane, Glycine Soja Peptide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Avena Sativa Peptide, Ceramide NP, Glycine Max Polypeptide, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phytosterols, Hydroxyacetophenone
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Orobanche Rapum Extract
Skin ProtectingPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Octadecene
SolventVp/Va Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Tribehenin, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Isododecane, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Dimethicone, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Bakuchiol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Phytosterols, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Stearyl Dimethicone, Octadecene, Vp/Va Copolymer, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tetrasodium EDTA
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Glycerin (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 StearateHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePhytosterols are plant-derived sterols (you can think of them as the plant world's version of cholesterol). In cosmetics, this ingredient is usually sourced from soybean, rice bran, shea, sunflower, and other seed oils.
The main actors in this group are β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol (the CIR covers 27 phytosterols).
They work by fitting perfectly into your stratum corneum's lipid matrix since they're structurally similar to cholesterol. Here, they reinforce your skin's barrier.
One small in vivo human study showed topical soybean phytosterols sped up barrier recovery within three days on tape-stripped skin.
Broader research credits them with:
Formulation use typically sit under 5%.
Testing in soy-allergic subjects found no sensitization signals, but be sure to patch test if you are unsure or have existing allergies.
Learn more about PhytosterolsPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate isn't fungal acne safe.
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
