What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveSteareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantRetinol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantEctoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientUbiquinone
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Isocetyl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Jojoba Esters, Silica, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 20, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Plankton Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopherol, Retinol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ectoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Ubiquinone, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate
EmulsifyingSodium PCA
HumectantSqualane
EmollientIsocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningN-Capryloyl Lysine
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCarnitine
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantUrea
BufferingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPullulan
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveLecithin
EmollientPhytic Acid
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTriacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cholesterol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Ethyl Macadamiate, N-Capryloyl Lysine, Jojoba Esters, Carnitine, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Carnosine, Caffeine, Salicylic Acid, Tocopherol, Pullulan, Caprylyl Methicone, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Silica, Lecithin, Phytic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Triacetin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Some other names for this ingredient include soy lecithin and deoiled soy lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol (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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water