What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xylose
HumectantFructan
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Lactate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-40 Stearate, Colloidal Oatmeal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Panthenol, Glycine Soja Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Lactic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Malt Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xylose, Fructan, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, T-Butyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Water, Isopentyldiol, Jojoba Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Retinol, Squalane, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Glycine Soja Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ergothioneine
Reviews
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
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.
Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.
Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.
Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.
This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.
Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolWater. 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
