What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glucose
Humectant
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), C14-22 Alcohols, Carbomer, Tromethamine, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Glucose, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen 18.68%
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Hydrolyzed Collagen 18.68%, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Methyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, C14-22 Alcohols, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tromethamine, Arachidyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Glucose, Tocopherol
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
We don't have a description for C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside yet.
This ingredient is a blend of long-chain fatty alcohols (myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, arachidyl, and behenyl). It is an emulsion stabilizer with emollient properties.
Don't let the word "alcohol" scare you: fatty alcohols are nothing like the drying solvents. This ingredient actually helps soften and smooth the skin.
By the way, the FDA allows products to be labeled "alcohol-free" even when they contain fatty alcohols like this one.
In a formula, it prevents the water and oil phases from separating over time while also contributing to a pleasant, non-greasy slip.
Interestingly, this ingredient can organize into the structures that mimic the skin's own lipid architecture to help support barrier function and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
The CIR Expert Panel has thoroughly assess the individual fatty alcohols that make up this blend and found no significant toxicity or dermal irritation.
Fungal acne: Research has shown the Malassezia can grow in the presence of fatty alcohols with the chain length between C12-24, making this ingredient not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about C14-22 AlcoholsCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseThis ingredient is a synthetic ingredient with emollient and skin conditioner used to make skincare products feel more lightweight on the skin. It helps improve slip and spreadability without feeling greasy.
Because it is high molecular weight and lipophilic (oil loving), it remains on the surface of skin.
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate is an emollient that helps make your skin smooth and hydrated. It specializes in creating a non-oily and "wet" feeling on skin.
This ingredient comes from isostearic acid, a saturated fatty acid. It is a synthetic ingredient.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
