What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyisobutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPetrolatum
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCollagen
MoisturisingCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHexapeptide-2
BleachingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningBiotin
Antiseborrhoeic1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Dibutyl Adipate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Petrolatum, Dipropylene Glycol, Microcrystalline Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Adenosine, Glycerin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Collagen, Collagen Amino Acids, Collagen Extract, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hexapeptide-2, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Cyanocobalamin, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Niacinamide, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Water, Biotin, 1,2-Hexanediol
Polyisobutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
AbrasivePentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylene/Propylene Copolymer
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPolyisobutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Octyldodecanol, Microcrystalline Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dextrin Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Water, Synthetic Wax, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Sodium Dna, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Glycerin, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen
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
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
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 GlycerinHydrolyzed collagen has a misleading name because it is actually a mixture of various proteins/peptides. This ingredient has skin hydrating properties.
Collagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. In your skin, it is responsible for keeping it firm and youthful.
Hydrolyzed Collagen is created by breaking up proteins into smaller peptide bonds. These peptides act as humectants and emollients.
Humectants are great at holding onto water, keeping skin hydrated. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
There is ongoing debate about whether hydrolyzed collagen works because it increases skin hydration. Skin hydration is also linked to elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles.
Collagen or peptide ingredients can be used in the morning or night. They will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is a great hair conditioner as well.
This ingredient can be extracted from different sources, including:
Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources. Vegan collagen would go by a different INCI name, such as hydrolyzed soy protein.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenMicrocrystalline Wax is derived from petroleum through a de-oiling process, then highly refined and purified before use in cosmetics.
In skincare formulations, it is used to improve texture and create a smooth, even consistency. It also helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPolyisobutene is a synthetic polymer made from isobutene.
It is a film-forming agent and helps bind ingredients together.
Polyisobutene is not absorbed by the skin.
Learn more about PolyisobuteneJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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