What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientParfum
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Trehalose, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Parfum, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Palmitic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Myristic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Lauric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phytosphingosine, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Flower Extract
Perfuming
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Retinol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Carbomer, Caffeine, Whey Protein, Steareth-20, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Disodium EDTA, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Potassium Sorbate, Dipeptide-2, Citric Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Biotin
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateSodium 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 HyaluronateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
