What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantSqualane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Inulin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Copper Gluconate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientIsopentyldiol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantSilica
AbrasivePolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Isostearyl Isostearate, Isopentyldiol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxyacetophenone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Zinc PCA, Silica, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Maltodextrin, Titanium Dioxide, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide
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
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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