What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPolysilicone-11
Dimethicone
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantMica
Cosmetic ColorantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeSodium Succinate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAdenosine
Skin ConditioningFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningPtfe
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Linalool
PerfumingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBoron Nitride
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGeraniol
PerfumingBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCitronellol
PerfumingMethionine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeGlycine
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclohexasiloxane, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, CI 77891, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Mica, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Faex Extract, Ptfe, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Arginine, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Silica, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Linalool, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Boron Nitride, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Geraniol, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Ceteareth-20, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Citronellol, Methionine, Potassium Sorbate, Glycine, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientVegetable Oil
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingPetrolatum
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantEuphrasia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-24
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vegetable Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Ceteareth-20, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Polyquaternium-24, Sodium Chloride, Diazolidinyl Urea, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, CI 19140, CI 15985
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceteareth-20 is an emulsifier and surfactant made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
This gives it both oil and water-loving properties that makes it an effect emulsifier; it's really great at pulling oil droplets into water to create a stable, creamy, and easy-to-spread base.
Typical use ranges from 0.5-30%. Most leave-on products are in the 1-10% zone.
The 20 ethylene oxide units is well above the PEG-10 threshold and therefore not a food source for Malassezia (it's fungal acne safe).
This ingredient has a comedogenic rating of 2 and an irritancy rating of 3. These numbers come from testing the raw ingredient on rabbit ears and doesn't reflect how it will behave in a finished product.
In practice, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient. The ratings reflect cautious lab conditions and not real-world use. Just be sure to patch test any formulas you feel unsure about.
Learn more about Ceteareth-20Glycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 Water