What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lactate
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantChamomilla Vulgaris Extract
Skin ProtectingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Coco-Glucoside, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lactate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Chamomilla Vulgaris Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientImidazolidinyl Urea
PreservativePolyglycerin-3
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCrocus Sativus Callus Extract
AntioxidantShea Butter Glyceride
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingKojic Dipalmitate
EmollientAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetyl Alcohol, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Polyglycerin-3, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Crocus Sativus Callus Extract, Shea Butter Glyceride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Benzoate, Niacinamide, Kojic Dipalmitate, Alpha-Arbutin, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopherol, Panthenol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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