What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingVeronica Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventBenzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Polyethylene, Glycol Stearate, Betaine, Propanediol, Squalane, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methylpropanediol, Benzophenone-3, Stearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Phospholipids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 StearatePropanediol 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
