What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningLaureth-23
CleansingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
EmulsifyingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCeteth-20
CleansingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Esters
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingMenthol
MaskingOctanal
PerfumingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPEG-100 Stearate
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingBlue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Laureth-23, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ceteth-20, Cetearyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetyl Esters, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ethylene Brassylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Menthol, Octanal, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phosphatidylcholine, Phytosterols, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethanolamine, Blue 1 Lake
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningBidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantBixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyltrimonium Maltodextrin Crosspolymer
Lentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingPEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeRaspberry Seed Oil/Tocopheryl Succinate Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Trisiloxane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Maltodextrin Crosspolymer, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Raspberry Seed Oil/Tocopheryl Succinate Aminopropanediol Esters, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate
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 GlycolDisodium 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.
Phenoxyethanol 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