What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Dimethicone, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Octyldodecanol, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Tapioca Starch
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Stearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Allantoin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Panthenol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Tapioca Starch, CI 77891, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Mica, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl 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
