What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Ascorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingMorus Bombycis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentTrametes Versicolor Extract
Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
AstringentTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Nigra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMolasses Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Extract
AstringentHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Prunus Domestica
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDi-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-6
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSucrose
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantIsohexadecane
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientArginine
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
AbrasiveSodium Rna
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethoxytolyl Propylresorcinol
AntioxidantGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Sulfite
PreservativeSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysilicone-11, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Pentylene Glycol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Morus Nigra Root Extract, Molasses Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Salicylic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Faex Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica, Sorbitol, Cholesterol, Phospholipids, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Squalane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-6, Glycerin, Sucrose, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isohexadecane, Acetyl Glucosamine, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Arginine, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Sodium Rna, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethoxytolyl Propylresorcinol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 80, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentMethylpropanediol
SolventIsobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol
BleachingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlucosylrutin
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientIsoquercitrin
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingTrisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Distarch Phosphate, Methylpropanediol, Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Tocopherol, Glucosylrutin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Isoquercitrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Trisodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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