What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingFructose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Urea
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Inulin, Propanediol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Proline, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Betaine, Sodium PCA, PCA, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Sucrose, Trehalose, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingGluconolactone
Chelating
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingThymol Trimethoxycinnamate
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Copernicia Cerifera Wax Extract
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Caesalpinia Sappan Stem Powder
Exfoliating
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, Synthetic Wax, C14-22 Alcohols, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Acetyl Glucosamine, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tromethamine, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Gluconolactone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Carbomer, Thymol Trimethoxycinnamate, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Glucose, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Mannitol, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Tocopherol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax Extract, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Silica, Arachidic Acid, Caesalpinia Sappan Stem Powder, Oleic 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.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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
