What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventVinyldimethicone
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Vinyldimethicone, Glycereth-26, Isononyl Isononanoate, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Sorbitan Oleate, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract 0.7%
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract 0.7%, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Allantoin, Octyldodeceth-16, Dipropylene Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Dextrin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sucrose Palmitate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Soluble Collagen, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateDisodium 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateWater. 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
