What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Acrylates Copolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Euglena Gracilis Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Acrylates Copolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, PEG-14m, Niacinamide, Euglena Gracilis Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Glucose, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Yeast Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentLecithin
Emollient
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Glutathione
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract
AstringentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Yeast Beta-Glucan, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Lecithin, Arbutin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Linolenic Acid, Glutathione, Linoleic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Vitex Agnus Castus Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Cyclodextrin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Caprylate, Propanediol, Benzoic Acid, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
