What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSpilanthes Acmella Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPteris Multifida Extract
AntioxidantFructan
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Trehalose, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Parfum, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Adenosine, Fructooligosaccharides, Disodium EDTA, Beta-Glucan, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Spilanthes Acmella Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Pteris Multifida Extract, Fructan, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHoney Extract
HumectantWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dextrin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Honey Extract
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
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 HydroxyacetophenoneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSodium 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