What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C13-15 Alkane
SolventTriheptanoin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC9-12 Alkane
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisodium EDTA
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Artemisia Annua Extract
Masking
Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Anthriscus Sylvestris Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Vine Sap
Skin ConditioningBambusa Arundinacea Juice
Abrasive
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Niacinamide, C13-15 Alkane, Triheptanoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Panthenol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C9-12 Alkane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Trisodium EDTA, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Artemisia Annua Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Anthriscus Sylvestris Extract, Vitis Vinifera Vine Sap, Bambusa Arundinacea Juice, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
