What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantUrea
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soybean Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmulsifyingIsostearic Acid
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientAminocaproic Acid
Arginine
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientHexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingStearyl Dimethicone
EmollientDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Urea, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Soybean Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate, Isostearic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aminocaproic Acid, Arginine, Citric Acid, Triethylhexanoin, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Triethyl Citrate, Stearyl Dimethicone, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPEG-32
HumectantUrea
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-75
HumectantGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Succinate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventHexylglycerin
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSuccinic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientLactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingSodium Isostearate
CleansingWater, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Pentylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Triethyl Citrate, PEG-32, Urea, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-75, Glycosyl Trehalose, Disodium Succinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sorbitol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Hexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-51, Succinic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Lactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Sodium Isostearate
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateTriethyl Citrate comes from citric acid. It has masking, perfuming, and solvent properties. As a solvent, this ingredient helps disperse ingredients evenly in skincare.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient can:
According to perfume manufacturers, this ingredient is almost odorless but has a mild fruity, wine and plum scent. It can be used to mask the scent of other ingredients.
This ingredient can be plant-sourced or synthetic; it can naturally be found in cabbage and white wine.
Learn more about Triethyl CitrateUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Urea is actually one of the more well-studied and well-supported ingredients out there if you have eczema.
Clinical trials have shown that urea creams in the 5 - 10% range can:
Higher concentrations (20 -30%) can also help with thickened, scaly patches but is also more likely to sting on active flares.
Skip urea if you have rosacea. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) lists it alongside alcohol, menthol, and fragrance as a potential irritant for rosacea-prone skin. Urea's keratolytic and penetration-enhancing properties can trigger stinging, burning, and redness.
As always, your skin is unique, so definitely check in with your dermatologist.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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