What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSd Alcohol 40-B
Astringent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Sea Water
HumectantSuberic Acid
Sebacic Acid
BufferingUndecanoic Acid
AntiseborrhoeicTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentBackhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentButyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Linoleate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Yeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Hedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Parietaria Officinalis Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMalva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrimula Veris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentVeronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mitracarpus Scaber Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Ammonium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Water, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Azelaic Acid, Hexyl Laurate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Squalane, Lactic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Sea Water, Suberic Acid, Sebacic Acid, Undecanoic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Isopentyldiol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Retinyl Linoleate, Dimethicone, Ethyl Linoleate, Hexylresorcinol, Yeast Polysaccharides, Propylene Glycol, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Flower Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Veronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Mitracarpus Scaber Extract, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Glycine, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Maltodextrin, Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Limonene, Salicylic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnolol
Antioxidant
Kaempferol
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitan Palmate
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Magnolol, Kaempferol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Palmate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCaprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
