What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPtfe
Tapioca Starch
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingMethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Ascophyllum Nodosum
Skin ConditioningSus Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Ptfe, Tapioca Starch, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, CI 77891, Mica, Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Asiaticoside, Phytosphingosine, Sorbitol, Maltodextrin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ascophyllum Nodosum, Sus Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Lycopene
Antioxidant
Marrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Methicone, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Isohexadecane, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Linoleic Acid, Lycopene, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Phospholipids, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Tocopheryl Acetate
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 GlycolGlycerin (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-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Steareth-2 is a waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients. It is created from polyethylene glycol and stearyl alcohol. The 2 stands for the number of ethylene oxide units used to create this ingredient.
Due to the low degree of ethoxylation, the molecule stays mostly oil-loving. That's why you'll often see it paired with water-loving steareth-20 or steareth-21 to create elegant emulsions.
In testing, this ingredient was nontoxic in acute oral studies and not a skin irritant or sensitizer.
You might hear concerns about 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylation; this is well-known in the industry and is controlled through purification steps before the ingredient is blended into finished products.
Learn more about Steareth-2Steareth-21 is a nonionic emulsifier made by reacting stearyl alcohol with 21 units of ethylene oxide. It is mainly a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
The "21" in the name just tells you it has a longer water-loving chain. This makes it more gentle and less likely to irritate skin compared to lower-numbered steareths.
You'll most likely see it paired with steareth-2 because the two work together to create stable formulations.
1,4-dioxane is often brought up as a concern but this is usually removed through purification.
Learn more about Steareth-21Tocopheryl 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 Water
