What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylpropanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carbomer, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Juice
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Dimethicone
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingSucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingSea Water
HumectantMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantMorus Alba Fruit Extract
AntioxidantViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Betula Alba Juice, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Stearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Yeast Extract, Glycoproteins, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sea Water, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, CI 15985, Carbomer, Parfum, Adenosine, CI 19140
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolThis 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 CarbomerCetearyl 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 AlcoholCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
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 GlycerinWater. 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