What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantCanola Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
Cyclohexasiloxane
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHarpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMadecassoside
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSoluble Collagen
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Canola Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Propylene Glycol, PEG-40 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Olivate, Squalane, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Xanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Harpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Collagen Amino Acids, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantUrea
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingParfum
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeGeraniol
PerfumingOleic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycerin, Urea, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Carbomer, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Lactate, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Geraniol, Oleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide 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 NPCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium 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 Water