What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Vinyldimethicone
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Allium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentLuffa Cylindrica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isododecane, C14-22 Alcohols, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vinyldimethicone, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-16 Alcohols, Tromethamine, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Zinc PCA, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Humectant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Isohexadecane, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, C14-22 Alcohols, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, CI 60730
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside yet.
This ingredient is a blend of long-chain fatty alcohols (myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, arachidyl, and behenyl). It is an emulsion stabilizer with emollient properties.
Don't let the word "alcohol" scare you: fatty alcohols are nothing like the drying solvents. This ingredient actually helps soften and smooth the skin.
By the way, the FDA allows products to be labeled "alcohol-free" even when they contain fatty alcohols like this one.
In a formula, it prevents the water and oil phases from separating over time while also contributing to a pleasant, non-greasy slip.
Interestingly, this ingredient can organize into the structures that mimic the skin's own lipid architecture to help support barrier function and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
The CIR Expert Panel has thoroughly assess the individual fatty alcohols that make up this blend and found no significant toxicity or dermal irritation.
Learn more about C14-22 AlcoholsCeramide 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 NPCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
