What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Acacia Senegal Gum Extract
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion Stabilising3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate
Sodium Gluceptate
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caprylyl 2-Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Acacia Senegal Gum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate, Sodium Gluceptate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl 2-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 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
