What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
1,5-Pentanediol
SolventBetaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlgin
Masking
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Honokiol
Antioxidant
Magnolol
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
PPG-4-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingSerine
Masking
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, 1,5-Pentanediol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Lauroyl Lysine, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Levulinate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Sodium Hydroxide, Algin, Ceramide Ng, Lactic Acid, Honokiol, Magnolol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PPG-4-Ceteth-20, Serine, Polyglycerin-3, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Nylon-12
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Nylon-12, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polyacrylamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, C13-14 Isoparaffin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Laureth-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, BHT, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
