What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Linalool
Perfuming
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Buteth-3
SolventSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberHydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Denatonium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tributyl Citrate
SolventWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methylparaben, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Amyl Cinnamal, Buteth-3, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Hydroxycitronellal, Denatonium Benzoate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tributyl Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
Buffering
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sucrose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Propanediol, Silica, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lactate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Alcohol, Sucrose, Urea, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tartaric Acid, Malic Acid, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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.
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 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 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
