What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Trehalose, Allantoin, Calcium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Gluconolactone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Magnesium Aspartate, Panthenol, Propanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Zinc Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientBis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArtemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingBambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingGlycine
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingValine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Bis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Panthenol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tranexamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Glucose, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Glycine, Potassium Sorbate, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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