What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningTrimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSucrose Polystearate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPCA Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingGlycereth-20
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingParfum
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantVp/Va Copolymer
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBrassica Campestris Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialPlantago Asiatica Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPlatycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract
AntioxidantZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVelvet Extract
HumectantAngelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Tenuissima Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAtractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCuscuta Australis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
AntioxidantGardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLedebouriella Divaricata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOyster Shell Extract
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTrichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract
Skin ProtectingViscum Album Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingEucommia Ulmoides Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAllium Tuberosum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygala Tenuifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTribulus Terrestris Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEpimedium Koreanum Extract
AntimicrobialGold
Cosmetic ColorantAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEucommia Ulmoides Bark Extract
AntioxidantAchyranthes Bidentata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylyl Trimethicone, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitol, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sucrose Polystearate, Triethylhexanoin, Beeswax, Panthenol, PCA Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Glycereth-20, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Parfum, Mica, Vp/Va Copolymer, CI 77891, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Amodimethicone, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Brassica Campestris Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Plantago Asiatica Seed Extract, Platycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Velvet Extract, Angelica Gigas Extract, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract, Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Cuscuta Australis Seed Extract, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Ledebouriella Divaricata Root Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Oyster Shell Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract, Viscum Album Extract, CI 77491, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Eucommia Ulmoides Leaf Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Allium Tuberosum Seed Extract, Polygala Tenuifolia Root Extract, Tribulus Terrestris Fruit Extract, Epimedium Koreanum Extract, Gold, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Eucommia Ulmoides Bark Extract, Achyranthes Bidentata Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningThuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingTrideceth-10
CleansingGlucose
HumectantCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantThiamine Hcl
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCalcium Pantothenate
Xylitol
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingMenadione
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Disodium EDTA
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-2
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Panthenol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Allantoin, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil, Adenosine, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Trideceth-10, Glucose, Collagen Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Ceramide NP, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Squalane, Cyanocobalamin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Biotin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Maltodextrin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Xylitol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Menadione, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Silica, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-2, Hexapeptide-11, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide 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 NPGlycerin (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 StearateHydrogenated 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 PanthenolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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