What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Betaine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethoxydiglycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactic Acid, Triethylene Glycol, Parfum, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Sinensis Peel Extract
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Algin
Collagen
Moisturising
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
Masking
Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentPolianthes Tuberosa Extract
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Dimethiconol, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Cyclodextrin, Caffeine, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Carnosine, Citrus Sinensis Peel Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Collagen, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, 1,2-Hexanediol, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Polianthes Tuberosa Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
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 DimethiconeDisodium 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
