What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Myristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
C13-16 Isoalkane
SolventHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin Conditioning
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Allantoin, Glucose, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosterols, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglycerin-3, C13-16 Isoalkane, Heptyl Undecylenate, Vinyldimethicone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Behenyl Olivate
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Behenate
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Honey Extract
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPollen Extract
EmollientLevan
Skin ProtectingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingZiziphus Jujuba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bee Venom
Astringent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Octyldodecanol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecyl Olivate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Niacinamide, Behenyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Glycerin, Stearyl Behenate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Behenic Acid, Cetyl Stearate, Stearyl Stearate, Honey Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pollen Extract, Levan, Decyl Glucoside, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Propolis Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ziziphus Jujuba Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bee Venom, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Madecassoside, Parfum, Limonene, Citral, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geraniol
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 GlycolDisodium 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 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 StearateWater. 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
