What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSpiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPalmitoyl Glycine
CleansingEctoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Stearic Acid
CleansingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Adenosine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Palmitoyl Glycine, Ectoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Malt Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Stearic Acid, Triethylhexanoin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Squalane, Phospholipids, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingRose Flower Oil
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientPCA
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingHistidine
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Adenosine, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, PCA, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phytosphingosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Threonine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Disodium EDTA
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
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 GlycolCeramide 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 CholesterolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 PanthenolPhytosphingosine 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 PhytosphingosineSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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