What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylamide
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Carbomer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyacrylamide, Tocopherol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Linoleic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingAspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine, Alanine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Serine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 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
