What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientTripeptide-32
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Algin
Lactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Rna
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPolysilicone-11
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Isopropyl Isostearate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Tripeptide-32, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hexapeptide-9, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Faex Extract, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caffeine, Algae Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Lactis Proteinum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Rna, Sodium PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Sucrose, Fructose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propylene Carbonate, Polysilicone-11, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lecithin, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Lespedeza Capitata Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Rhizobian Gum
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCoenochloris Signiensis Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lespedeza Capitata Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Urea, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Chlorphenesin, Plankton Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Chloride, Coenochloris Signiensis Extract, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Allantoin
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 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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 Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
