What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventBis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHexapeptide-10
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glucose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAminoethylphosphinic Acid
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDecarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentHexyl Nicotinate
EmollientGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Musk Ketone
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Snail Secretion Filtrate, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Glycosaminoglycans, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Maltodextrin, Saccharide Isomerate, Water, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Hexylene Glycol, Hexapeptide-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Glucose, Fructose, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Aminoethylphosphinic Acid, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, Dextrin, Hexyl Nicotinate, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Potassium Sorbate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin, Musk Ketone, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, commonly known as Argireline or Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, is a popular peptide in skincare. Itās often referred to as a āBotox-likeā ingredient because it helps reduce muscle movement.
By relaxing these micro-movements, Argireline may help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. That said, itās not as powerful as Botox, and research on its long-term effectiveness is still limited.
Beyond smoothing, Argireline may also support collagen production. Collagen is the protein that helps keep your skin firm, bouncy, and well-hydrated by strengthening the skin barrier.
So while Argireline isnāt a miracle fix, it can be a helpful addition to a routine focused on both prevention and skin health.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8Butylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethyl Isosorbide is a low-irritation solvent that helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from glucose.
Research shows how well this ingredient works depends on the active and formulation rather than the concentration alone. This means adding more Dimethyl Isosorbide does not guarantee better penetration of ingredients into the skin.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
