What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantCyclomethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantStearyl Heptanoate
EmollientOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingPseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil/Olive Fruit Oil/Sunflower Seed Oil/(Angelica Gigas/Licorice/Lithospermum Erythrorhizon) Root Ferment Extract Filtrate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCalamine
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Trehalose, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Stearyl Heptanoate, Ozokerite, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Pseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil/Olive Fruit Oil/Sunflower Seed Oil/(Angelica Gigas/Licorice/Lithospermum Erythrorhizon) Root Ferment Extract Filtrate, Propylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Calamine, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Sorbitan Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lactobacillus, Butylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Carbomer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Bisabolol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Trideceth-6, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Mandelic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Salicylic Acid, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created by fermenting sorbitol (which usually comes from potato starch!). It is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Manufacturer tests show this ingredient helped reduce irritation from lactic acid by almost half and kept skin hydrated long-term as a humectant
Beyond hydration, Biosaccharide Gum-1 gives formulas a silky, non-sticky feel.
This ingredient is gentle, versatile, and suitable for all skin types.
Fun fact: Similar sugars can be found naturally in fruits like apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Butylene 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 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