What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Cetearyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalene
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Asparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingC30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Carrageenan
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hazelnut Protein
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingOligopeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pollen Extract
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Retinyl Linoleate
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Linoleate
Antioxidant
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Cetearyl Methicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Squalene, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, Carrageenan, Ceramide AP, Citric Acid, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hazelnut Protein, Isohexadecane, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Oligopeptide-4, Oligopeptide-5, Panthenol, Pollen Extract, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polysorbate 60, Propylene Glycol, Retinyl Linoleate, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, BHT, Benzoic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylamide
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Diisopropyl Adipate, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Carbomer, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Laureth-7, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Mica, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Phytosphingosine, Polyacrylamide, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Parfum, Tocopherol, CI 77491
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 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 DimethiconeDisodium 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
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
