What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantC13-15 Alkane
SolventIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Dilaurate
EmollientAcetyl Dipeptide-31 Amide
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Steareth-20
CleansingSteareth-10
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Acetyl Glucosamine, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Butylene Glycol, C13-15 Alkane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Acetyl Dipeptide-31 Amide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Dipeptide-2, Palmitic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Steareth-20, Steareth-10, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningMaltobionic Acid
BufferingBatyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientNylon-12
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Hydroxide
BufferingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Bisulfite
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Gluconolactone, Maltobionic Acid, Batyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isocetyl Stearate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Nylon-12, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Retinyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Hydroxide, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Bisulfite, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140
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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".
"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.
This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.
Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:
Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.
A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
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 HyaluronateSteareth-20 is an emulsifier and solubilizer. It is created from stearyl alcohol with ~20 units of ethylene oxide to give it a strong preference for water.
As an emulsifier, it helps oil-in-water emulsions like lotions, creams, and cleansers stay stable. It also solubilizes small amounts of oil-loving ingredients (like fragrance) into water-based formulas.
You'll likely find this ingredient with steareth-2 (it's oil-loving sister) where the two work together to give products a cushiony feel.
Typical use levels sit at around 1-5% and this ingredient has been found to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel.
Learn more about Steareth-20Water. 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