What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Mel
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingSecale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Agar
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Mel, Pentylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tapioca Starch, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Carbomer, Polyglycerin-3, Agar, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Swertia Chirata Extract
HumectantNarcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Algae Extract
EmollientLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningPhoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Amodimethicone
Pearl Powder
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Parfum
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Swertia Chirata Extract, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Algae Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Butylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Pearl Powder, Gold, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Parfum, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
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
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
