What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Zea Mays Starch, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ectoin, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantC15-19 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantTrioctyldodecyl Citrate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingIsosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Dextran
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, C13-15 Alkane, Butylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Synthetic Beeswax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Bisabolol, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Dextran, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCeramide 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 NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinās lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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