What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment
Skin ConditioningAphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Silica, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ectoin, Lactococcus Ferment, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Allantoin, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Heptyl Undecylenate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Swertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Surfactin
CleansingCaproic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Acetate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Heptyl Undecylenate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Swertia Japonica Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, C14-22 Alcohols, Dipeptide-2, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isopentyldiol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Surfactin, Caproic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Sodium Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Water. 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
