What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingZinc Citrate
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Triethanolamine
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaureth-4
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Jojoba Esters, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Potassium Sorbate, Ceramide EOP, Sorbitol, Carbomer, Zinc Citrate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethanolamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tocopherol, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Laureth-4, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Maltodextrin, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientUrea
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantShorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSteareth-20
CleansingHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingUbiquinone
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantTalc
AbrasiveBHT
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialTropolone
Skin ConditioningN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningCoumarin
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isocetyl Stearate, Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, CI 77891, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, CI 77289, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Steareth-20, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Ubiquinone, Lactic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Talc, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, CI 19140, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Tropolone, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Coumarin, Citral, Potassium Sorbate, Dipeptide-2, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Biotin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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