What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantPEG-240
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingGellan Gum
Polyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientMethionine
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantAlanine
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Diglycerin, PEG-240, Sodium Chloride, Gellan Gum, Polyquaternium-51, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Methionine, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Alanine, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone
EmollientPPG-17-Buteth-17
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium Succinate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAgar
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Succinic Acid
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentGlucosyl Ceramide
Skin ConditioningAphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides
AbsorbentHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer
Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Triethylhexanoin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone, PPG-17-Buteth-17, Triethyl Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Disodium Succinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Agar, Disodium EDTA, Succinic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dextrin, Glucosyl Ceramide, Aphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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