What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aroma
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Silica Silylate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aroma, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Trideceth-6, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Polyurethane-35
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Prunus Avium Seed Oil
Emollient
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventEthyl Vanillin
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
CI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Alcohol, Polyglycerin-3, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polyurethane-35, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Menthoxypropanediol, Parfum, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Benzoate, Prunus Avium Seed Oil, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Methylpropanediol, Ethyl Vanillin, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Propyl Gallate, Phenylpropanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 73360, CI 15985, CI 15850, CI 45410, CI 17200
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
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a form of glycerin with emulsifying and emollient properties.
As an emulsifier, this ingredient helps keep products together while adding a thick texture. The manufacturer states this ingredient has emollient properties. Emollients help keep the skin hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate is created by reacting diglycerin and isostearic acid. Due to the isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-2 TriisostearateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
