What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHypnea 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
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantLactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Sterols
EmollientErgothioneine
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
CleansingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolysilicone-11
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSucrose
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
AbrasiveTromethamine
BufferingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantCholesterol
EmollientZinc PCA
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Sulfate
Citric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate
UV AbsorberDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 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, Lactis Proteinum, 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
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Methylparaben
PreservativeSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Amodimethicone
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantDenatonium Benzoate
MaskingWater, 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 is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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