What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientOryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAnhydroxylitol
HumectantUrea
BufferingXylitol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Oryza Sativa Cera, Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate, Caprylyl Methicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Anhydroxylitol, Urea, Xylitol, Betaine, Lactic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Polysorbate 60, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Betaine, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pantolactone, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides isn't fungal acne safe.
This 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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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