What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Galactoarabinan
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Citronellol
Perfuming
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Tannic Acid
AstringentChlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment
Skin ConditioningColeus Forskohlii Root Extract
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Coco-Caprylate, Alcohol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, CI 77891, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sclerotium Gum, Allantoin, Galactoarabinan, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Ubiquinone, Alcohol Denat., Citronellol, Caffeine, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Tannic Acid, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Synthetic Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Distarch Phosphate, Octyldodecanol, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Glycine, Alanine, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitratePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
