What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycol Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Betaine
Humectant
Glutathione
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trideceth-6
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Isododecane, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycol Stearate Se, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearic Acid, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tranexamic Acid, Betaine, Glutathione, Panthenol, Parfum, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Trideceth-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Colloidal Gold
AntimicrobialCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Honey Extract
Humectant
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAvena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyurethane Crosspolymer-1
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Isopropyl Myristate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Retinol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ferulic Acid, Colloidal Gold, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Honey Extract, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Polyurethane Crosspolymer-1, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol
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 AlcoholGlycerin (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
