What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Parfum
Masking
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingXylitol
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingAlumina
Abrasive
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Betaine, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, CI 77891, Ceteareth-12, Phenoxyethanol, Xylitylglucoside, Polyacrylamide, Parfum, Anhydroxylitol, Carbomer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tromethamine, Xylitol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Glucose, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Alumina, Alcohol, Citric Acid, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingArginine
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, CI 14700, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Carbomer, Sorbitol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water
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 GlycolCarbomer 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
