What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLimonene
Perfuming
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol, Limonene, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, CI 15985, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycosaminoglycans, Lecithin, Polyacrylate-13, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethanolamine, Benzoic Acid, Triethylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
