What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMilk Extract 8.1%
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
EmulsifyingSorbitol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantJasminum Officinale Flower Water
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingWater, Milk Extract 8.1%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Sorbitol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, C14-22 Alcohols, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glucose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Jasminum Officinale Flower Water, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantCymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit
AstringentDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate-13
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantIndole Acetic Acid
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventVegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Benzoate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Indole Acetic Acid, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Vegetable Amino Acids, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Polyglutamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Benzoate
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis 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.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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