What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingLecithin
EmollientArginine
MaskingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingSucrose Stearate
EmollientPCA
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingHexyl Laurate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingCholesterol
EmollientGlycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Panthenol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sodium Lactate, Lecithin, Arginine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Aspartic Acid, Sucrose Stearate, PCA, Stearic Acid, Hexyl Laurate, Palmitic Acid, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Cholesterol, Glycosphingolipids
Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Domestica Fruit Extract
MoisturisingCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPolyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMenadione
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantLinoleic Acid
CleansingTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Glycerin, Water, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Propanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Adenosine, Coptis Japonica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Biotin, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Lecithin, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Menadione, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Inositol, Linoleic Acid
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinLecithin 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 LecithinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā
Itās 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 PropanediolSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum