What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Aspartate
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-60 Glyceryl Stearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Tranexamic Acid
AstringentHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSaccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-400, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Stearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-60 Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Tranexamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Niacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Centella Asiatica Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Butanediol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Niacinamide, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Hydrolyzed Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Butanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycolGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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