What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Ethyl Macadamiate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Isoceteth-20, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pullulan
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingMannose
HumectantSodium Mannose Phosphate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialParfum
Masking
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Squalane, Betaine, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Juice, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pullulan, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil, Sodium Carrageenan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Propanediol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Mica, Alcohol Denat., Palmitic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Cellulose Gum, Mannose, Sodium Mannose Phosphate, Adenosine, Phenethyl Alcohol, Tin Oxide, Maris Sal, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Parfum, CI 77491, CI 77891
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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 Water
