What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Nelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Brassica Campestris Sprout Extract
HumectantBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientSophora Japonica Bud Extract
Skin ProtectingTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Arbutin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Nelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract, Trideceth-6, Adenosine, Carbomer, Madecassoside, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Ectoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Brassica Campestris Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Sophora Japonica Bud Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrideceth-10
CleansingEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Isododecane, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Trideceth-10, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinHydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic emollient. It forms a non-occlusive film on the skin's surface to provide a silky feel without being greasy.
In vivo studies in volunteers with atopic and dry skin showed no irritation or intolerance. The volunteers also saw a positive effect in dryness, scaling, and roughness after 28 days of use.
Concentrations up to 100% in guinea pig tests found it to be non-sensitizing and completely safe for use in cosmetics.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydeceneSodium 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
