What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
PEG-20
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sucrose
Humectant
Sucrose Tristearate
Emollient
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract
MaskingBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Pentylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Squalane, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Linoleate, PEG-20, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Hexylresorcinol, Polysorbate 60, Sucrose, Sucrose Tristearate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Sucrose Palmitate, Retinol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Hexapeptide-48 Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glucosamine Hcl
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester
EmollientPEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates Copolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides, Dimethicone, Acetyl Glucosamine, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Citrate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine, Hydroxyproline, Proline, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hexapeptide-48 Hcl, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glucosamine Hcl, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Oleic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sorbitan Laurate, Hexylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Carbomer, Acrylates Copolymer, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Phenoxyethanol 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 Hyaluronate
