What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Steareth-21
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Bentonite
Absorbent
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCitral
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil
Masking
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Disodium EDTA
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingLavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Malic Acid
Buffering
Octanal
Perfuming
Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Pinene
Masking
Polyacrylamide
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSqualene
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Petrolatum, Glycerin, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Steareth-21, Dimethicone, Phytosterols, Bentonite, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Beeswax, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Citral, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrated Silica, Lactic Acid, Laureth-7, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Malic Acid, Octanal, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Pinene, Polyacrylamide, Polysorbate 60, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Quercetin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sea Salt, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Squalene, Steareth-2, Tocopherol
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 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
