What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantLysine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
CI 77002
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Lysine, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caffeine, CI 77002, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Shorea Robusta Resin
TonicOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentSodium Chloride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingDextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ricinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Avena Sativa Leaf Extract
AstringentIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C15-19 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propanediol, Silica, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glyceryl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Panthenol, Shorea Robusta Resin, Oryza Sativa Starch, Sodium Chloride, Octyldodecanol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Dextrin Palmitate, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Squalane, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Polyglycerin-3, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ricinoleic Acid, Maltodextrin, Avena Sativa Leaf Extract, Isostearic Acid, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is made when the Lactobacillus bacteria (the same kind that makes yogurt and kimchi) are allowed to ferment a nutrient medium.
As it ferments, it collects lactic acid, peptides, enzymes, and other bioactive metabolites to provide:
A 2023 review noted that probiotic fermentation ingredients like this one can enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce UV-induced oxidative damage, and support barrier function.
One clinical study from the same year showed a Lactobacillus ferment lysate significantly reduced transepidermal water loss and improved skin hydration.
Another review highlighted that topical Lactobacillus-based preparations can improve ceramide levels in the stratum corneum, support barrier integrity, and even help reduce S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis.
Why is this so cool?
Basically, your skin's outer layer works as a brick wall; skin cells are bricks and ceramides are the mortar holding it together. Moisture escapes, irritants get in, and your skin gets dry and reactive when ceramide levels drop. On top of that, "bad" skin bacteria S. aureus loves to move in when your barrier is weak to make inflammation and irritation worse.
So Lactobacillus ferment is basically patching the wall and evicting the troublemaker when it boosts ceramide production and help keep S. aureus in check.
On top of all this, it also acts as a mild antimicrobial preservative booster.
Just so you know, most studies focus on specific strains or the lysate form rather than this generic "Lactobacillus Ferment", so results can vary.
Though it's a promising ingredient, it doesn't have decades of robust clinical data behind it just yet.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus FermentMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfatePolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate is a plant-derived, oil-soluble emulsifier. It keeps water-in-oil emulsions stable to prevent the ingredients from separating.
On the safety front, it's considered non-irritating and well-tolerated (it can even be found in formulations for baby skin).
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because research has shown that the Malassezia species can grow in the presence of fatty acid esters with chain lengths above C12 (and this one is C18).
While it does have a comedogenic rating of 4, the comedogenic rating scale was developed from rabbit ear models which has limited clinical relevance to human skin. Studies also show that comedogenic ingredients cannot predict how the overall formula will behave on human skin.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 DiisostearatePolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate is a plant-derived emulsifier made by combining glycerin and ricinoleic acid.
It works well for giving buttery lip balms and low-viscosity water-in-oil emulsions a non-greasy and pleasant skin feel.
Typical concentrations range from 0.1-3%.
This ingredient is mild and non-irritating in nature.
Because it is derived from ricinoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Ricinoleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 PolyricinoleatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Dehydroacetate is a synthetic preservative and sodium salt form of dehydroacetic acid. It stops bacteria, mold, and yeast from growing in your products at low concentrations.
Clinical testing found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing. It's also not significantly absorbed through skin.
There are a very small number of reported cases of contact dermatitis in cases linked to wound-care creams used over compromised skin (rather than skincare).
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-risk preservative just doing its job.
Typical concentrations run up to 0.6%, which is also the maximum amount permitted under both EU CosIng regulations and US FDA guidelines.
Learn more about Sodium DehydroacetateTocopheryl 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
