What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHoney Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Honey Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Caramel, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, CI 19140, CI 15985, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSodium Chloride
MaskingPiptadenia Colubrina Peel Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Chloride, Piptadenia Colubrina Peel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Allantoin, Caffeine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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