What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Coptis Chinensis Root Extract
Antioxidant
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingOleic Acid
Emollient
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Oryza Sativa Germ Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sparassis Crispa Extract
Emulsion StabilisingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Atelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isoamyl Laurate, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Myristyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Arginine, Carbomer, Heptyl Undecylenate, Propanediol, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Octyldodecanol, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Lauryl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Adenosine, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Phytosterols, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Oleic Acid, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Myristic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Soluble Collagen, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Atelocollagen, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCarbomer 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
