What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientIsopentyldiol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantOlea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPotassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
CleansingLysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
MaskingSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAnogeissus Leiocarpus Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-19
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
CleansingCitrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentAcetyl Hexapeptide-30
Skin ConditioningBarosma Betulina Leaf Extract
PerfumingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Isopentyldiol, Pentylene Glycol, Diheptyl Succinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Olea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Hexapeptide-11, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Phenylpropanol, Sorbitan Laurate, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Oleate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Anogeissus Leiocarpus Bark Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-19, Sodium Phytate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin ConditioningHeptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPolyvinyl Alcohol
Methylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Panthenol, Ethoxydiglycol, Dimethicone, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acetyl Glutamine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Laureth-7, Diazolidinyl Urea, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum