What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Caprylate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventLauryl Glucoside
CleansingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Trehalose, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Caprylate, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP, C15-19 Alkane, Lauryl Glucoside, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-50 Shea Butter
Emulsifying
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingErythritol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Spica Flower Oil
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOzonized Olive Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingOrange Roughy Oil
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Butter Extract
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Niacinamide, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, PEG-50 Shea Butter, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Squalane, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tromethamine, Panthenol, Sodium Carbomer, Erythritol, Trehalose, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adenosine, Lavandula Spica Flower Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ozonized Olive Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Orange Roughy Oil, Madecassoside, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Asiaticoside, Malt Extract, Asiatic Acid, Butter Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract, Ceramide AP, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Linoleic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linolenic Acid
Reviews
Alternatives
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
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 PanthenolTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
