What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate Starch
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-75 Stearate
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningDextran
Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningTrifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-75 Stearate, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Dextran, Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
MaskingXylitylglucoside
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantPEG-75 Stearate
Xylitol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingColostrum
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingMimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRhizobian Gum
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientDiaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33
Skin ConditioningWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Anhydroxylitol, PEG-75 Stearate, Xylitol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Colostrum, Triethanolamine, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to mix water and oil, stabilize emulsions, and aid in cleansing.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 StearatePEG-75 Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Steareth-20 is an emulsifier and solubilizer. It is created from stearyl alcohol with ~20 units of ethylene oxide to give it a strong preference for water.
As an emulsifier, it helps oil-in-water emulsions like lotions, creams, and cleansers stay stable. It also solubilizes small amounts of oil-loving ingredients (like fragrance) into water-based formulas.
You'll likely find this ingredient with steareth-2 (it's oil-loving sister) where the two work together to give products a cushiony feel.
Typical use levels sit at around 1-5% and this ingredient has been found to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel.
Learn more about Steareth-20Tocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum