What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Triundecanoin
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer
MoisturisingParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Fructose
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Urea
Buffering
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 85
Emulsifying
Maltose
MaskingSodium PCA
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dimethicone, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Triundecanoin, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Steareth-2, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer, Paraffinum Liquidum, Pentylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Fructose, Parfum, Urea, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 85, Maltose, Sodium PCA, Carbomer, Sodium Chloride, Trehalose, Tropolone, Polysorbate 20, Allantoin, Glucose, CI 42090, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Petrolatum
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Malic Acid
Buffering
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCamphor
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citral
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil
Masking
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Octanal
Perfuming
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Pinene
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Trisiloxane, Petrolatum, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Glycerin, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Beeswax, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Polyacrylamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Malic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Camphor, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citral, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Octanal, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Pinene, Polysorbate 60, Quercetin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide
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 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Petrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.
This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.
Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.
The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.
Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.
Petrolatum is fungal acne safe. It is a hydrocarbon with no fatty acid structure, so Malassezia cannot metabolize it. In-vitro studies support negligible growth stimulation as well.
It's also worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.
Learn more about PetrolatumSodium 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
