What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Sterols
EmollientErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysilicone-11
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sucrose
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Tromethamine
BufferingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sulfate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate
SurfactantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-8, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Whey Protein, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Micrococcus Lysate, Persea Gratissima Sterols, Ergothioneine, Biotin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caffeine, Lecithin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysilicone-11, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sucrose, Trehalose, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Tromethamine, Phytosphingosine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Cholesterol, Zinc PCA, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sulfate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Methylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Amodimethicone
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Denatonium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, Sodium Carbomer, Pvp, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Amodimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Denatonium Benzoate
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 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 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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
