What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingSqualane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PPG-17-Buteth-17
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate
EmollientAphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Triethylhexanoin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PPG-17-Buteth-17, Triethyl Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Potassium Sorbate, Sphingolipids, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Dimethicone, Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Aphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidThis form of hyaluronic acid is produced through fermentation.
According to a manufacturer, it has a positive charge by ionic binding to help moisturize and give hair a smooth feel. This is why you'll find this ingredient in shampoos and body washes.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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
