What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Maltose
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Cydonia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTapioca Starch
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, C13-15 Alkane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Arginine, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Citric Acid, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructose, Glucose, Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Lecithin, Maltose, Panthenol, Parfum, Pectin, PEG-8, Pentylene Glycol, Proline, Pyrus Cydonia Fruit Extract, Serine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tapioca Starch, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Urea, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Emulsifying3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Citrus Limon Fruit Oil
Astringent
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Trehalose, Isononyl Isononanoate, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dimethiconol, Isododecane, Disodium EDTA, Zea Mays Starch, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ceramide NP, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Xanthan Gum, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Cholesterol, Lactic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hydrated Silica, Ceramide EOP
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 HyaluronateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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
