What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientCaprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Max Oil
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
T-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycerin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Madecassoside, Colloidal Oatmeal, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Ceramide EOP, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Carbomer, Arachidyl Glucoside, Arginine, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Glycine Max Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Disodium EDTA, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLecithin
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Lactic Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Coco-Caprylate, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Isoamyl Laurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Resveratrol, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Allantoin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cyanocobalamin, Isohexadecane, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitrateLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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