What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventPolyurethane-35
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTrehalose
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenylpropanol
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium PCA
HumectantSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Silica
AbrasiveSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Trisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, C9-12 Alkane, Polyurethane-35, Mica, Trehalose, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Methylpropanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Carrageenan, Maris Sal, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 77491, CI 14700, CI 77891, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Parfum
MaskingPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGold
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPrunus Cerasus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningWater, Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Sorbitol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Parfum, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cellulose Gum, Gold, Sodium Hydroxide, Prunus Cerasus Flower Extract, Lactobacillus
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 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