What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
C13-16 Isoalkane
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenyl Triacetate
Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Naringenin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Propanediol, C13-16 Isoalkane, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Panthenol, Panthenyl Triacetate, Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Naringenin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Behenic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Triethyl Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-16 Alcohols, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, PEG-100 Stearate, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Sodium Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Silica, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Urea, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol
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 NPCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
