What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Hull Extract
MoisturisingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seedcake Extract
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXylitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAlcohol
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Hull Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Lysate, Coffea Arabica Seedcake Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
HumectantCetyl Esters
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingArnica Montana Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Cetyl Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer yet.
We don't have a description for Diheptyl Succinate yet.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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