What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingParfum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingIsopentyldiol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
EmollientOligopeptide-68
BleachingOctyldodecanol
EmollientOctyldodecyl Oleate
EmollientCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Alcohol
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
AbrasivePaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Oleate
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSolidago Virgaurea Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 60, PEG-150 Distearate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Isopentyldiol, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isohexadecane, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Oligopeptide-68, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Oleate, Sodium PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Solidago Virgaurea Extract, CI 16035, CI 19140
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 GlycolCi 16035 is a synthetic dark-red dye. This dye is created from an acid called Allura red AC, an azo dye.
Azo dyes need to be purified thoroughly before use. This makes them more stable and longer lasting.
This dye is commonly used in foods, approved by both the FDA and EFSA.
Learn more about CI 16035CI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPEG-150 Distearate is a hardworking ingredient that is usually found at the end of a lot of cleansers whose main job is to act as a micellar thickening agent for surfactant-based cleansers.
It works by physically linking up surfactant micelles already in a formula to bump up viscosity and gives products a pourable-but-not-runny body.
Safety-wise, it's been found safe in cosmetics with minimal skin irritation and no evidence of toxicity.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe; it's a diester of stearic acid (C18) that falls into the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast feeds on. In vitro studies have also shown the Malassezia can metabolize PEG stearates by cleaving the ester bond to release the fatty acid.
Learn more about PEG-150 DistearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic surfactant and emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid.
It reduces the surface tension between oil and water phases to help them stay mixed and stable in a formulation. In other words, it prevents your formulas from separating into an oily mess.
The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the scientific data and found this ingredient to be safe, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing at concentrations up to 5% (it's even approved by the FDA as an OTC eye drop ingredient).
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Sodium 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