What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPolyacrylamide
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
EmulsifyingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil
MaskingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingMalic Acid
BufferingOctanal
PerfumingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPEG-100 Stearate
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningQuercetin
AntioxidantRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Trisiloxane, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Laureth-7, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyacrylamide, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Beeswax, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Malic Acid, Octanal, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Quercetin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
EmulsifyingIsomerized Safflower Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentOleth-3 Phosphate
Oleic Acid
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Thioctic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Bisulfite
AntioxidantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeWater, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Isomerized Safflower Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Oleic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Disodium EDTA, Thioctic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Bisulfite, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
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 GlycolC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters isn't fungal acne safe.
Glycerin (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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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