What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeDimethicone
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ag
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningLysine Lauroyl Glutamate
CleansingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Egg Shell Membrane
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialFullerenes
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningC10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Hydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Syriacus Flower Extract
AntioxidantRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientCamellia Seed Oil
Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Oil
Skin ProtectingPolyquaternium-10
Glycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPvp
Emulsion StabilisingPentetic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPPG-8-Ceteth-10
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Dicocodimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeDistearyldimonium Chloride
Isopropyl Alcohol
SolventDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Dimethiconol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide AP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosterols, Lysine Lauroyl Glutamate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Egg Shell Membrane, Hydrolyzed Silk Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol Crosspolymer, Gamma-Docosalactone, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Ferulic Acid, Fullerenes, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, C10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Soluble Proteoglycan, Hibiscus Syriacus Flower Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Seed Oil, Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pvp, Pentetic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, PPG-8-Ceteth-10, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Dicocodimonium Chloride, Steartrimonium Chloride, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Amodimethicone, Dimethiconol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel, CI 15985, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningOxygen
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Aspergillus/Ginseng Extract Ferment
AntioxidantIsostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
CleansingAminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingDihydroxymethylsilylpropoxy Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Casein
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Silica
AbrasivePersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ag
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningLanolin
EmollientMaleic Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningDiethyl Sebacate
EmollientArginine
MaskingPlatinum
AntimicrobialSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhytic Acid
Silver Oxide
AntimicrobialGlyoxal
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlcohol
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Oxygen, Lactobacillus, Hydrolyzed Aspergillus/Ginseng Extract Ferment, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Dihydroxymethylsilylpropoxy Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Casein, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Silica, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Lanolin, Maleic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Gamma-Docosalactone, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Diethyl Sebacate, Arginine, Platinum, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cellulose Gum, Dimethicone, Isostearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, PEG-14m, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phytic Acid, Silver Oxide, Glyoxal, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
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 GlycolCeramide AG is a type of Ceramide.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramide AG is the N-acylated sphingolipid consisting of Sphinganine having the D-erythro structure linked to an alpha-hydroxy saturated or unsaturated fatty acid.
Learn more about Ceramide AgCeramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCeramide EOP is formally known as Ceramide 1 and Ceramide 1 A.
EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin. They bind dead skin cells together to create a barrier. The ceramides in our skin have the ability to hold water to keep our skin hydrated.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A strong skin barrier helps with:
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here:
Learn more about Ceramide EOPCeramide NG is a type of Ceramide. The NG stands for a sphinganine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here:
Ceramide AP
Ceramide EOP
Ceramide NP
Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeWe don't have a description for Gamma-Docosalactone yet.
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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinHydrolyzed collagen has a misleading name because it is actually a mixture of various proteins/peptides. This ingredient has skin hydrating properties.
Collagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. In your skin, it is responsible for keeping it firm and youthful.
Hydrolyzed Collagen is created by breaking up proteins into smaller peptide bonds. These peptides act as humectants and emollients.
Humectants are great at holding onto water, keeping skin hydrated. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
There is ongoing debate about whether hydrolyzed collagen works because it increases skin hydration. Skin hydration is also linked to elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles.
Collagen or peptide ingredients can be used in the morning or night. They will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is a great hair conditioner as well.
This ingredient can be extracted from different sources, including:
Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources. Vegan collagen would go by a different INCI name, such as hydrolyzed soy protein.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Phytosterols 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 PhytosterolsWater. 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