What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPolyglycerin-3
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Polydecene, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Methylpropanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Madecassoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Cholesterol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-51, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Malt Extract, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Isoamyl Laurate, Vinyldimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Polyacrylate-13, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycolWe don't have a description for C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside yet.
C14-22 Alcohols is made up of synthetic fatty alcohols. More specifically, these fatty alcohols contain 14 to 22 carbons in the alkyl chain.
Its main purpose is to stabilize products. As an emulsifier, it helps prevent waters and oils from separating.
Due to this ingredient having a similar composition to cetearyl alcohol, this ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe. However, the risk is low and has been only shown by a single study, so SkinSort does not currently flag C14-22 Alcohols as a fungal acne trigger.
Learn more about C14-22 AlcoholsThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide 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 NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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