What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPEG-7 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantPolyaminopropyl Biguanide
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Xylitol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytic Acid
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningAmylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Chloride
Citric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Glycerin, PEG-7 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Propanediol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Chlorphenesin, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Sodium Chloride, Anhydroxylitol, Disodium EDTA, Xylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Disodium Succinate
MaskingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Succinate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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 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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolSodium 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