What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Cetearyl Olivate
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentDextrin
AbsorbentAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Triethylhexanoin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Vinyldimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Arginine, Sorbitan Olivate, C14-22 Alcohols, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate-13, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Isostearate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Ceramide NP, Glycoproteins, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingColloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Ceteareth-25
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningCaprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Water, Urea, Paraffinum Liquidum, Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Colloidal Oatmeal, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Lactate, Ceteareth-25, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Behenic Acid, Cetyl 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.
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 NPCetearyl 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 AlcoholDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitrateHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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
