What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Diglycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Seed Extract
BufferingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Dimethicone, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Diglycerin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Ceramide NP, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Arginine, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citral, Limonene
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientCyclomethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Triethanolamine
BufferingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 StearateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
