What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
C15-19 Alkane
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCeteareth-20
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
PEG-100 Stearate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, C15-19 Alkane, Squalane, Betaine, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hyaluronic Acid, Phospholipids, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cholesterol, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide AP, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Ceteareth-12, Octyldodecanol, Lactic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Ceteareth-20, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Myristyl Myristate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucose, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantMonascus Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBHT
Antioxidant
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Trehalose, Glycosyl Trehalose, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Potassium Hydroxide, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Adenosine, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Sea Water, Monascus Extract, Potassium Laurate, Maltodextrin, Glyceryl Caprylate, BHT, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium 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
