What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Sorbitol
Humectant
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantOpuntia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Chlorella Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningCarrageenan
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningAgarose
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, Propanediol, Sorbitol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Opuntia Vulgaris Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Chlorella Ferment, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrulline, Carrageenan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Agarose, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Erythritol, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 16035
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 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 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
