What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientBeheneth-20
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCholesteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningStearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Beheneth-20, Cholesterol, Sorbitan Palmitate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Petrolatum, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Cholesteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin (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 StearatePetrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.
This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.
Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.
The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.
Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.
Petrolatum is fungal acne safe. It is a hydrocarbon with no fatty acid structure, so Malassezia cannot metabolize it. In-vitro studies support negligible growth stimulation as well.
It's also worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.
Learn more about PetrolatumPhenoxyethanol 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.
