What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dextran
Cholesterol
Emollient
Calcium Hydroxymethionine
Skin Conditioning3-Aminopropane Sulfonic Acid
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide EOP, Arginine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bacillus, Acetyl Glutamine, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dextran, Cholesterol, Calcium Hydroxymethionine, 3-Aminopropane Sulfonic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-94
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-95
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polysilicone-11, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Decyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-94, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-95
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
