What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Honey Extract
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentAspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Alanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Sodium Citrate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Honey Extract, Beta-Glucan, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Glycine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract
Abrasive
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningColocasia Esculenta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Colocasia Esculenta Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopherol, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Isohexadecane, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 80, PEG-100 Stearate, Mica, CI 77891
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.
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 preservatives
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 (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 HyaluronateTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract comes from the Theobroma cacoa, or Cacao tree. Cacao trees are native to tropical landscapes.
Cacao seed extract contains antioxidants known as polyphenols.
Tocopherol 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 Water
