What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Polysorbate 80, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, CI 16035
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPvp
Emulsion StabilisingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium PCA
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIsododecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMagnesium PCA
HumectantIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Pvp, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Potassium PCA, Carbomer, Isododecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium PCA, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglutamic Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Octyldodecanol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891
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 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPeg-150 Distearate is an emulsifier and thickening agent. It is created from stearic acid.
As an emulsifier, peg-150 distearate helps other ingredients dissolve. This helps prevent ingredient separation.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-150 DistearatePhenoxyethanol 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