What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Propanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingBisabolol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPoria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetearyl Olivate, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Olivate, Caffeine, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Ectoin, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sodium PCA, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Dipeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBetaine
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientLactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBakuchiol
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningSucrose Distearate
EmollientAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Water, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Heptyl Undecylenate, Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Bakuchiol, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitic Acid, Tromethamine, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Phytosphingosine, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Sucrose Distearate, Asiatic Acid, Lauric Acid, Phytosterols, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Reviews
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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