What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ecklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycol Palmitate
Emulsifying
Glycol Stearate Se
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Agarum Cribrosum Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Fragile Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Cloustoni Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Porphyra Yezoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningSolidago Virgaurea Extract
Skin ConditioningUlva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycol
HumectantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate-13
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycol Palmitate, Glycol Stearate Se, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Agarum Cribrosum Extract, Codium Fragile Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Laminaria Cloustoni Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract, Solidago Virgaurea Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Adenosine, Trehalose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Dipropylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Glycol, CI 77288, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, CI 77492, CI 77499, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate-13, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Parfum, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract
AstringentPropanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaris Aqua
HumectantInositol
Humectant
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Algin
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSilanetriol
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Glycerin, Betaine, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Propylene Glycol, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Maris Aqua, Inositol, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Citric Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Silanetriol, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Sucrose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Propyl Gallate, CI 77163
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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
