What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Cholesterol
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Lactate, Cholesterol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sasa Veitchii Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Squalane, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sasa Veitchii Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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.
Sodium 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
