What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingIsohexadecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Polyacrylamide
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningNylon-12
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDimethiconol
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativePEG-100 Stearate
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingMica
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Propylparaben
PreservativeSodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate
EmulsifyingEthylparaben
PreservativePEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantPolyquaternium-7
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-7
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningAcanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningMethylsilanol Tri-PEG-8 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingMethicone
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Behenyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Panthenol, Nylon-12, Benzyl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Methylparaben, PEG-100 Stearate, Laureth-7, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Mica, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Ethylparaben, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Decyl Glucoside, Medicago Sativa Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Polyquaternium-7, Tin Oxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Methylsilanol Tri-PEG-8 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Methicone, Tocopherol, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, BHT, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLactose
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantPropylparaben
PreservativeMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Lactose, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-8, Stearyl Alcohol, Tromethamine, Panthenol, Carbomer, Isopropyl Myristate, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Propylparaben, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Copper Gluconate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTDisodium 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 GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenPanthenol 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 PanthenolPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Propylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben with antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
This ingredient can be naturally found in plants and insects, but most of it is synthetically manufactured for human use. In cosmetics, it is usually created by reacting para-aminobenzoic acid and propanol (an alcohol).
You can usually find this ingredient in water-based products.
Parabens have come under controversy due to the claim they are hormone disruptors. Studies show conflicting results. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Propylparaben is commonly found in food, medicine, and cosmetics.
Learn more about PropylparabenStearyl 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 AlcoholWater. 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