What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingStearyl Heptanoate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSea Salt
AbrasiveDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Caprylate
EmollientLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Stearyl Heptanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sea Salt, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Stearyl Caprylate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentZinc PCA
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningNarcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
AstringentCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSucrose
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Heptyl Undecylenate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Zinc PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Sucrose, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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