What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Sulfite
PreservativeAcetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlutathione
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialLecithin
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantAlcohol
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAminoethylphosphinic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Methylparaben
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingMethylparaben
PreservativeSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Bisulfite
AntioxidantWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, PEG-400, Butylene Glycol, Arbutin, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfite, Acetyl Tyrosine, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glutathione, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aminoethylphosphinic Acid, Sodium Methylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Methylparaben, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Bisulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeSodium PCA
HumectantParfum
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alpha-Arbutin, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium PCA, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Potassium Sorbate
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 GlycolGlycerin (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-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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