What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventHexyldecanol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Squalane
Emollient
Beheneth-25
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, C13-15 Alkane, Hexyldecanol, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Squalane, Beheneth-25, Phenoxyethanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Methicone, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Bisabolol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-75 Stearate
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCeteth-20
CleansingCholesterol
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Coco-Caprylate, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Ng, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Mannitol, Xanthan Gum, PEG-75 Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Phosphatidylcholine, Ceteth-20, Cholesterol, Steareth-20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Pentylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
