What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethyl Mea
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate
Antioxidant
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Diethanolamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hexyl Laurate, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Mea, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zinc Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Ubiquinone, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Linalool, Diethanolamine, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
C15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentTridecapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Malic Acid
Buffering
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
Humectant
Calcium Chloride
AstringentFructose
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantCalcium Alginate
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Tridecapeptide-1, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lactobacillus, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Retinal, Arginine, Diisostearyl Malate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Bisabolol, Inulin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Citric Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Malic Acid, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cellulose Gum, Glucose, Calcium Chloride, Fructose, Cholesterol, Sodium Phytate, 2,3-Butanediol, Calcium Alginate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Cellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate
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 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 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 StearateLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinSodium 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
