What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
Humectant
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Gossypium Herbaceum Callus Culture
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Polyquaternium-80
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Didecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Steareth-100
Gel FormingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Succinate
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Silica, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diisopropyl Adipate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cyclopentasiloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Gossypium Herbaceum Callus Culture, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Salicylic Acid, Polyquaternium-80, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Phenethyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Laureth-23, Cetyl Palmitate, Steareth-100, Ethylhexylglycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Succinate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbylpropyl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Ectoin, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Ascorbylpropyl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
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
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 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.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
