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 ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAlpinia Galanga Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingCalcium Chloride
AstringentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlgin
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveMyristic Acid
CleansingCellulose
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEctoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCitric Acid
BufferingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Polyacrylamide
Polyepsilon-Lysine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Isopropyl Isostearate, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Alpinia Galanga Leaf Extract, Stearic Acid, Calcium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Algin, Silica, Myristic Acid, Cellulose, Palmitic Acid, Adenosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ectoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Laureth-7, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Phytic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Polyepsilon-Lysine, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 AcidDimethicone 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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