What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantBisabolol
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Alumina
Abrasive
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Algin
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCollagen
Moisturising
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Betaine, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Titanium Dioxide, Squalane, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Disodium EDTA, Ubiquinone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Aluminum Stearate, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 60, Alumina, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Carnosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Algin, Potassium Sorbate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Collagen, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
PEG-32
HumectantTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Lactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate
Aphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides
AbsorbentHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSorbitol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-75
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Butylene Glycol, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Diglycerin, PEG-32, Triethyl Citrate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Lactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate, Aphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sorbitol, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Carbomer, PEG-75, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
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 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 EDTAThis ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronatePentylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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 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 CrosspolymerWater. 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
