What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Maltose
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose
Absorbent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentAnigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Mitracarpus Scaber Extract
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Maltose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cellulose, CI 77891, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Sorbitol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, T-Butyl Alcohol, Mitracarpus Scaber Extract, Tin Oxide, CI 14700, 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.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
