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 ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantRosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract
TonicRosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Trehalose, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Betaine, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Faex Extract, Sorbitol, Algae Extract, Sodium Polyaspartate, Polysorbate 80, Parfum, Citronellol, Linalool, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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 (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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 HyaluronateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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