What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSqualane
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningOlive Oil Decyl Esters
Diglycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingErythritol
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
HumectantCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningC18-22 Hydroxyalkyl Hydroxypropyl Guar
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPentadecalactone
MaskingXylose
HumectantHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingUrea
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
HumectantLecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantPullulan
Squalene
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingMethyl Palmitate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCreatine
Skin ConditioningCirsium Eriophorum Callus Extract
AstringentRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Squalane, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Diglycerin, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Erythritol, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Beta-Sitosterol, Xylitol, Ceramide Ng, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, C18-22 Hydroxyalkyl Hydroxypropyl Guar, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentadecalactone, Xylose, Hydroxystearic Acid, Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sclerotium Gum, Trehalose, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Pullulan, Squalene, Phytosphingosine, Alanine, Glycine, Magnesium Aspartate, Lactic Acid, Methyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Creatine, Cirsium Eriophorum Callus Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Zingerone
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialResveratrol
AntioxidantGenistein
Skin ConditioningQuercetin
AntioxidantSilybin
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Acetyl Zingerone, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Ferulic Acid, Resveratrol, Genistein, Quercetin, Silybin, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin 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.
Learn more about LecithinPullulan is a low viscosity polysaccharide (a long chain carbohydrate) with binding and film forming properties when dissolved in water. It is used to create a "silicone-like" or silky feel in cosmetics without adding viscosity.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's ability to easily dissolves makes it a great carrier for active ingredients.
Due to it being edible and tasteless, you'll likely find this ingredient in breath freshener strips. This ingredient is produced from the starch of the fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans.
Pullulan is stable over a broad-range of pH.
Learn more about PullulanSclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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