What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningBetulin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, C14-22 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Squalane, Ectoin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Vinyldimethicone, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Tocopherol, Betaine, Guaiazulene, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Betulin, Beta-Glucan, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
