What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate
EmulsifyingMyristyl Myristate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Erythritol
HumectantPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningBatyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingXylitol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingTin Oxide
AbrasiveOryzanol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingMenthol
MaskingOryza Sativa Germ Oil
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingFagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicCamellia Japonica Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Myristyl Myristate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Stearyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Erythritol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Batyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 77891, Polysorbate 60, Mica, Sorbitan Tristearate, Xylitol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Alcohol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Tin Oxide, Oryzanol, Citric Acid, Menthol, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Limonene, Aluminum Hydroxide, CI 77492, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventXylitol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristyl Myristate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLonicera Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientTetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantIsostearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientParfum
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Propanediol, Xylitol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Silica, Beeswax, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lonicera Japonica Leaf Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Inositol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Isostearic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Parfum, Stearyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77491
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholAluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideBehenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disodium 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 Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SeMyristyl Myristate is created from the fatty acids of myristyl alcohol and myristic acid. In skincare, it is an emollient and texture enhancer.
On its own, this ingredient has a comedogenicity index of 5/5. This means it has the potential to clog pores. When diluted with cetyl alcohol or propylene glycol, the comedogenicity will decrease.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Nutmeg, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil all contain this ingredient naturally.
Learn more about Myristyl MyristateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, itâs technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term âoil-freeâ isnât regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about Xylitol