What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningRhizobian Gum
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprate
EmollientAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sucrose Polystearate, Jojoba Esters, Niacinamide, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract, Rhizobian Gum, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Caprate, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglycerin-3, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 40
Emulsifying
PEG-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Tea-Stearate
CleansingPerfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract
Skin ProtectingYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 188
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Stearic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 40, PEG-2 Stearate, Tea-Stearate, Perfluorodecalin, Saccharide Isomerate, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract, Yeast Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Poloxamer 188, Caprylyl Glycol, P-Anisic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 WaterYeast extract is a silky, clear liquid derived from yeast (usually Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Torula yeast).
This ingredient has plenty of skin benefits:
Bioferments of yeast and soy have been found to reduce hyperpigmentation at low levels.
Due to its fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Yeast Extract
