What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Lithospermum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Bacillus/Glutamic Acid Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate-13
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Dives Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bacillus, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Lithospermum Officinale Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Bacillus/Glutamic Acid Ferment Filtrate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Polyacrylate-13, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyisobutene, Palmitic Acid, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Stearic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Beta-Glucan, Asiaticoside, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Dives Leaf Oil, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Limonene, Citral, Farnesol
Water
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ursolic Acid
MaskingAminobutyric Acid
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Saccharide Isomerate, Ursolic Acid, Aminobutyric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Madecassoside, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Carbomer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyacrylate-13 is a type of acrylate polymer. Acrylate polymers are commonly used as adhesives in cosmetics.
Polyacrylate-13 creates a film to protect the skin. It is also used to thicken and stabilize a product. It works by making water a gel-like consistency. This gel consistency helps suspend particles.
Polyacrylate-13 is a copolymer of acrylic acid, acrylamide, sodium acrylate, sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate monomers
Learn more about Polyacrylate-13Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer made from isobutene.
It is a film-forming agent and helps bind ingredients together.
Polyisobutene is not absorbed by the skin.
Learn more about PolyisobutenePolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
