What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPEG-40
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantWater, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Polysorbate 20, Betaine, Allantoin, Arginine, Carbomer, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Parfum, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Maltodextrin, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, PEG-40, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPiper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantRaffinose
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Bisabolol, Polyquaternium-51, Methylpropanediol, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Raffinose, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Adenosine, Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Nonapeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidThis synthetic peptide is created from lysine, valine, and palmitic acid.
According to the manufacturer, in-vitro studies show tissue growth and collagen synthesis. Another in-vivo study found 60 volunteers saw a significant reduction in wrinkles after 84 days.
Due to its palmitic acid base, this peptide may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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