What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Domestica Seedcake Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialGlucose
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Betaine, C12-14 Alketh-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trehalose, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Xylitol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Citrate, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Prunus Domestica Seedcake Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Glucose, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Sitosterol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Phytosterols, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPhyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentArachidic Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Xanthan Gum, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Panthenol, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Aspergillus Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ceramide NP, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phytosterols, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cyclodextrin, Arachidic Acid, Myristic Acid, Oleic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
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
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCeramide 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 NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated 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 PanthenolPhytosterols are plant-derived sterols (you can think of them as the plant world's version of cholesterol). In cosmetics, this ingredient is usually sourced from soybean, rice bran, shea, sunflower, and other seed oils.
The main actors in this group are β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol (the CIR covers 27 phytosterols).
They work by fitting perfectly into your stratum corneum's lipid matrix since they're structurally similar to cholesterol. Here, they reinforce your skin's barrier.
One small in vivo human study showed topical soybean phytosterols sped up barrier recovery within three days on tape-stripped skin.
Broader research credits them with:
Formulation use typically sit under 5%.
Testing in soy-allergic subjects found no sensitization signals, but be sure to patch test if you are unsure or have existing allergies.
Learn more about PhytosterolsWater. 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