What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin ProtectingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA
Dimethicone 5.25%
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningIsosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Tridecane
PerfumingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Phytate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingOleic Acid
EmollientLaureth-8
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Sulfate
T-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingDimethicone 5.25%, Water, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Undecane, Glycerin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Cetearyl Olivate, Tridecane, Sorbitan Olivate, Silica, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, Oleic Acid, Laureth-8, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Sulfate, T-Butyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide 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 NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosineTocopherol 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