What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polyglycerin-10
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Polyglycerin-10, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Agar
MaskingCalcium Alginate
MaskingGellan Gum
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Perfluorodecalin
Skin Conditioning4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientSucrose Palmitate
EmollientZinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Betaine, Methylpropanediol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzophenone-4, Agar, Calcium Alginate, Gellan Gum, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Mica, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Acetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Mannitol, Arginine, Perfluorodecalin, 4-Butylresorcinol, Dextrin, Diatomaceous Earth, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lecithin, Glycosphingolipids, Sucrose Palmitate, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
