What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Seed Oil
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentCholesterol
Emollient
Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Vinyldimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Panax Ginseng Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Phytosphingosine, Madecassic Acid, Ceramide EOP, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Isohexadecane, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dextrin, Cholesterol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientIsocetyl Myristate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Parfum
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingLactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTrichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract
Skin ProtectingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Panax Ginseng Root
Emollient
Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentCeratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Isocetyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate , PEG-10 Dimethicone, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Trisodium EDTA, Panax Ginseng Root, Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract, CI 19140, CI 15985
Reviews
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
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 AlcoholCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Glycerin (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 StearateTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
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 Water
