What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingMelissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Menthol
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Trideceth-9
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Polysorbate 80, Niacinamide, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Mentha Piperita Leaf Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Menthol, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-9, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 42090, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningButyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Nylon-12
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Parfum
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, CI 77220, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Butyl Avocadate, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isohexadecane, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Acetyl Glucosamine, Zinc PCA, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydroxyapatite, Silica, Nylon-12, Polysorbate 80, Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Coconut Acid, Salicylic Acid, Parfum, BHT, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Zinc Oxide
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolysorbate 80 is a synthetic surfactant and emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid.
It reduces the surface tension between oil and water phases to help them stay mixed and stable in a formulation. In other words, it prevents your formulas from separating into an oily mess.
The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the scientific data and found this ingredient to be safe, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing at concentrations up to 5% (it's even approved by the FDA as an OTC eye drop ingredient).
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Sodium 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
