What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzoic Acid
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDiglycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Glycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin)
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPullulan
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Behenyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Carbomer, Diglycerin, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin), Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Propanediol, Pullulan, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingPPG-17-Buteth-17
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPEG-8
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingInositol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropanediol
SolventSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingBeheneth-30
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, PPG-17-Buteth-17, Triethylhexanoin, PEG-8, Sorbitol, Polysorbate 60, Inositol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Citrate, Beheneth-30, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Laurate, Tocopherol, Alcohol Denat., Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Chloride
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 GlycolCaprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 ingredient is a filtrate from soymilk that has been fermented with Lactobacillus. The word "filtrate" means you're getting fermentation by-products, not live probiotic bacteria.
It is a gentle skin conditioning ingredient used to help skin feel softer, calmer, and more hydrated. In cosmetic research, "probiotic/postbiotic" style ingredients are commonly discussed in the context of supporting the skin's micro-ecology and barrier function.
Just be cautious if you're allergic to soy, and be sure to patch test even though it's processed/filtered.
Learn more about Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment FiltratePentylene 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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