What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPotentilla Miyabei Callus Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Plankton Extract, Potentilla Miyabei Callus Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate
Emollient
Roe Extract
Skin ConditioningStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Bourbon Extract
AstringentSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingHedta
AbsorbentTromethamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate, Roe Extract, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Superoxide Dismutase, Niacinamide, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Bourbon Extract, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosterols, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Lactate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Hydroxide, Pvp, Hedta, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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
