What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Bakuchiol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Stearic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Bakuchiol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Squalane, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Propolis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Beta-Glucan, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingTripeptide-29
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientSqualene
EmollientJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantTribehenin
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Tripeptide-29, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Squalene, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Ceramide Ng, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Tribehenin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 HyaluronateSorbitan Stearate is an emulsifier made by reacting sorbitol with stearic acid.
It's mostly used to keep oil and water mixed so your formulas stay smooth and stable.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has found 4% of this ingredient in repeat-insult patch tests on humans to be non-sensitizing. There is a caveat that some reactions have shown up in patients with damaged or diseased skin.
Because it is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it falls into the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. This means this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan StearateWater. 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