What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polysilicone-11
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNannochloropsis Oceanica Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Menthyl Lactate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Nannochloropsis Oceanica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phospholipids, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Decyl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sphingolipids, Bacillus Ferment, Sodium Citrate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, CI 42090, CI 19140, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingShea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Parfum, Allantoin, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Collagen, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Dehydroacetic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AllantoinAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide is a prebiotic. It prevents harmful bacteria from growing on skin by keeping the skin's microbiome in balance.
Another benefit of this ingredient is its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect our skin from oxidative damage.
Biosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created by fermenting sorbitol (which usually comes from potato starch!). It is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Manufacturer tests show this ingredient helped reduce irritation from lactic acid by almost half and kept skin hydrated long-term as a humectant
Beyond hydration, Biosaccharide Gum-1 gives formulas a silky, non-sticky feel.
This ingredient is gentle, versatile, and suitable for all skin types.
Fun fact: Similar sugars can be found naturally in fruits like apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopheryl 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 Water
