What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Oleate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquioleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Titanium Dioxide, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Beta-Glucan, Copper Gluconate, Ceramide NP, 2,3-Butanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGuaiazulene
AntimicrobialSqualane
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Carbomer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Guaiazulene, Squalane, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 CholesterolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 LecithinWater. 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