What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingSodium PCA
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf
MaskingDurio Zibethinus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingXylitol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSaccharomyces Lysate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium Succinate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingThreonine
Glutamic Acid
HumectantGlycine
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sodium PCA, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Durio Zibethinus Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Inulin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Xylitol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Saccharomyces Lysate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Valine, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Juice
MoisturisingPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingWater, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polyquaternium-51, Prunus Armeniaca Juice, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 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