What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ethyl Cinnamate
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-6
EmulsifyingHexyl Benzoate
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSecale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Ethyl Cinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Steareth-6, Hexyl Benzoate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 9.5%
UV Absorber
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 1%
UV Absorber
Steareth-6
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Citrus Junos Peel Oil
Astringent
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide 0.1%
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Methylparaben 0.2%
Preservative
Ethylparaben 0.01%
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol 0.9%
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 9.5%, Alcohol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1%, Octocrylene 1%, Steareth-6, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide Ng, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide 0.1%, BHT, Methylparaben 0.2%, Ethylparaben 0.01%, Phenoxyethanol 0.9%
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone 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 DimethiconeMethylparaben is a synthetic preservative and one of the most widely used in the world. It has a simple, but important job: prevent your products from going bad by stopping bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing.
Typical use levels are low, often 0.1-0.3%.
This is also one of the most heavily studied preservatives out there and major regulatory bodies have repeatedly given it the green light.
In 2023, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) confirmed that this ingredient is safe up to 0.4% on its own, of up to 0.8% when mixed with other paraben esters.
Here's the science behind the noise behind parabens/hormones as well:
Methylparaben shows very weak estrogen-like activity in vitro tests (more than 1,000x weaker than your body's own estradiol). In vivo (live-organism) studies don't support a meaningful endocrine-disrupting effect either.
You get a stronger estrogenic effect from eating tofu, actually.
It's also a low sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon; they usually happen on damage or broken skin.
There is a caveat: France has proposed to formally re-examine its endocrine classification in 2025 so the regulatory conversation isn't fully closed as of yet.
But as it stands today, this ingredient is considered safe at permitted levels.
Learn more about MethylparabenPhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWe don't have a description for Steareth-6 yet.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Water. 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
