What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC15-19 Alkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
C13-14 Alkane
SolventLitchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Bran Extract
AbrasiveCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides
Skin ConditioningCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMalus Sylvestris Flower Extract
AntioxidantLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Extract
PerfumingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Clementina Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Extract
AstringentCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
CleansingMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingQuartz
AbrasiveSodium Salicylate
PreservativeSodium Lactate
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlycol Distearate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Olivate, C13-14 Alkane, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Glycine Soja Sterols, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Sodium PCA, Plankton Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Malus Sylvestris Flower Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Clementina Fruit Extract, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Quartz, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Lactate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Maltodextrin, Glycol Distearate, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCeteareth-20
CleansingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingHydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningEchium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Dimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSteareth-20
CleansingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Phosphatidylcholine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Copper Gluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Disodium EDTA, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Steareth-20, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, CI 77891, CI 77491
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 HyaluronateWater. 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