What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDurvillaea Potatorum Extract
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract
PerfumingMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingRose Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, C13-15 Alkane, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Durvillaea Potatorum Extract, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyglutamic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Rose Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycolic Acid 8%
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventLactic Acid 2.5%
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingOctyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCellulose Acetate Butyrate
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingLecithin
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Parfum
MaskingUbiquinone
AntioxidantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningRetinol 1%
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningTricaprylin
PerfumingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSilica Silylate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycolic Acid 8%, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Propanediol, Lactic Acid 2.5%, Potassium Hydroxide, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Parfum, Ubiquinone, Phosphatidylcholine, Pentylene Glycol, Retinol 1%, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tricaprylin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica Silylate, Silica, Magnesium Stearate, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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