What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Panthenyl Triacetate
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Cyclodextrin
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Panthenyl Triacetate, Ethyl Linoleate, Trehalose, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Phospholipids, Methyl Cyclodextrin, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Ornithine, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Cholesterol, Lactobacillus, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lecithin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Lauryl Alcohol, Levulinic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Oleyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Cyclohexane
SolventDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Castor Oil Hydrogenated Ethoxylated
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Cyclohexane, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Castor Oil Hydrogenated Ethoxylated, Butylene Glycol
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 NS is formally known as Ceramide 2. It is one of the major ceramides in the stratum corneum (outermost layer of skin) plays a role in forming a protective barrier.
Due to its structure, skin lipids can be packed tightly and in turn, this strengthens the barrier and reduces water loss.
Studies show conditions like atopic dermatitis can worsen when ceramide NS levels are low.
Learn more about Ceramide NsGlycerin (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 StearateHydrogenated 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 Water
