What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Methylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, C10-18 Triglycerides, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Carbomer, Lecithin, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polyglutamic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
