What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
PEG-8
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isohexadecane
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Silica
Abrasive
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Alumina
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Vitex Trifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Polyglycerin-10
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, PEG-8, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Isohexadecane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Stearate, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C20-22 Alcohols, Silica, PEG-100 Stearate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Vitex Trifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Soluble Proteoglycan, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Polyglycerin-10, Xanthan Gum, Folic Acid, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentAnthyllis Vulneraria Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSaururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Fructose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Allantoin, PEG-20 Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Anthyllis Vulneraria Flower Extract, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Fructose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide As, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Ceramide EOP, Phosphatidylcholine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol
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
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 GlycolCeramide EOP is formally known as Ceramide 1.
It is naturally found in skin and part of the intercellular "mortar" holding everything together in your outermost layer.
EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
What makes Ceramide EOP special is its ultra-long fatty acid chain; this unique structure allows it to bridge the lipid layers in your skin barrier to prevent water loss (something no other ceramide can do).
Low levels of Ceramide EOP have been found in people with eczema and psoriasis.
Using it together with other ceramides, cholesterol, and linoleic acid have been shown to meaningfully improve hydration and reduce water loss.
In one clinical study, a regimen using Ceramide EOP, NP, and AP led to significant symptom improvements in patients with eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin in just 4 weeks.
You'll usually see concentrations between 0.1-0.5% in formulations. Overall, this is a well-tolerated and safe ingredient for cosmetic use.
Learn more about Ceramide EOPCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
