What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientParfum
MaskingSodium Surfactin
CleansingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingMalic Acid
BufferingTartaric Acid
BufferingTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Sodium Surfactin, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Potassium Laurate, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 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