What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Mica, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Panthenol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Phospholipids, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tin Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylamide
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPullulan
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingLitchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Laureth-7, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Sorbate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Benzoate, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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 GlycolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water