What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPunica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ficus Carica Fruit/Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Menthyl Lactate, Mica, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Caprylate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Cocoglycerides, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Jojoba Esters, Propanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract, Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Adenosine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Maltodextrin, Parfum, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitratePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
