What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventErythritol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Nephelium Lappaceum Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Propanediol, Squalane, C9-12 Alkane, Erythritol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Octyldodecanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Distarch Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Benzoic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Nephelium Lappaceum Peel Extract, Citric Acid, Stearic Acid, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Water, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Tapioca Starch, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Collagen, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene
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 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
