What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Betaine, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventAgave Americana Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Agave Americana Stem Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Cellulose Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Laminaria Digitata Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
