What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ethyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-6
EmulsifyingOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Ethyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Steareth-6, Octocrylene, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Triethanolamine, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Methylpropanediol
SolventCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingYeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sericin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Algin
Helichrysum Italicum Extract
Antiseborrhoeic1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methylpropanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hexyl Laurate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethoxydiglycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Decyl Glucoside, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bisabolol, Trideceth-6, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Yeast Polysaccharides, Ectoin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sericin, Propylene Glycol, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carnosine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Theobroma Cacao Seed 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.
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 GlycolDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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
