What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventUndecane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantBetaine
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTridecane
PerfumingPEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylamide
Dimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, C10-18 Triglycerides, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Undecane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sea Water, Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Tridecane, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Dimethiconol, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
EmollientC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil
MaskingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingMalic Acid
BufferingOctanal
PerfumingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPEG-100 Stearate
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningQuercetin
AntioxidantRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Trisiloxane, Petrolatum, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycerin, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Laureth-7, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyacrylamide, Beeswax, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Malic Acid, Octanal, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Quercetin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide
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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as "C13-14 Isoalkane".
C13-14 Isoparaffin is created from petroleum-based mineral oils. It is an emollient and helps thicken a product.
As an emollient, it helps keep the skin soft and smooth by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in, keeping the skin hydrated.
C13-14 Isoparaffin may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about C13-14 IsoparaffinCaprylyl 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 GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 StearateLaureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.
This ingredient is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.
Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
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.
Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.
Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.
It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.
We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about PolyacrylamideSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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