What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDiglycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAcrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer
Magnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
AbrasivePolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
SolventPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolypropylsilsesquioxane
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingBenzyl Glycol
SolventIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCholesteryl Chloride
Skin ConditioningCholesteryl Isostearate
EmollientCholesteryl Nonanoate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDiamond Powder
AbrasiveHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, CI 77891, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Diisostearyl Malate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Cyclopentasiloxane, CI 77492, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Diglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Acrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Stearic Acid, CI 77491, Alumina, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77499, Isododecane, Octyldodecanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Benzyl Glycol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesteryl Chloride, Cholesteryl Isostearate, Cholesteryl Nonanoate, Tocopherol, Diamond Powder, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, BHT, Silica, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSucrose Distearate
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantCarnosine
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningAmylopectin
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePotassium Benzoate
PreservativePhenylpropanol
MaskingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningWater, Panthenol, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sucrose Distearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Carnosine, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Amylopectin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, CI 77220, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Benzoate, Phenylpropanol, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate
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
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s 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 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