What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPhenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Nylon-12
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Dibutyl Adipate, Phenethyl Benzoate, CI 77891, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Nylon-12, Polysilicone-15, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, T-Butyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allium Victorialis Extract
Antioxidant
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthium Strumarium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Zinc Oxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Homosalate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Titanium Dioxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allium Victorialis Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Xanthium Strumarium Fruit Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideButylene 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 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 GlycerinSodium 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
