What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Beheneth-25
CleansingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glutathione
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Cera/Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Beheneth-25, Cera Microcristallina, Trehalose, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Plankton Extract, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glutathione, Superoxide Dismutase, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linolenic Acid, Diamond Powder, Lactobionic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Cera/Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Myristyl Myristate, Isohexadecane, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Silanetriol
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Potassium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Niacinamide, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Anhydroxylitol, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Resveratrol, Butylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glucose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Xylitol, Tocopherol, Silanetriol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
