What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Silica, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Polyglycerin-3, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 Water
