What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSucrose Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Panthenol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Gluconolactone, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Parfum
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTorreya Nucifera Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
AntioxidantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Almond Glycerides
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSarcosine
Skin ConditioningSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Potassium Hydroxide, Coco-Glucoside, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Parfum, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Tocopherol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Capryloyl Glycine, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Sarcosine, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Oleanolic Acid, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractCeramide 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 NPDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated 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 LecithinWater. 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