What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoconut Alkanes
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Oleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Mono/Dioleate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Sterols
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylglycerol
Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Mono/Dioleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Beta-Glucan, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Phosphatidylglycerol, Phytosphingosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid
Panax Ginseng Root Extract 62%
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventLycium Chinense Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScrophularia Buergeriana Root Extract
EmollientBetaine
HumectantCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract 62%, Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propanediol, Lycium Chinense Stem Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Scrophularia Buergeriana Root Extract, Betaine, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Zinc PCA, Maltodextrin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
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
Ceramide 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 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 GlycerinPhytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosineWater. 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