What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Hull Powder
Abrasive
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDiazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPCA
Humectant
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Valine
MaskingLinalool
Perfuming
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Hull Powder, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sclerotium Gum, Diazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Sorbate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, PCA, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Serine, Valine, Linalool, Caramel, Threonine, Isoleucine, Proline, Parfum, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Sodium Hydroxide, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Heptanoate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Caprylate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Faex
Skin ConditioningWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Soy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
PEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cocoglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearyl Heptanoate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Squalane, Triheptanoin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Ceramide Ng, Phytosterols, Faex, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Soy Amino Acids, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Behenyl Alcohol, Tribehenin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 CopolymerDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
