What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCeteareth-20
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Cellulose
AbsorbentC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Isohexadecane, Retinol, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Cellulose, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate
EmollientDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventBetaine
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Lactate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-6
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Betaine, Ceramide NP, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Bakuchiol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Glyceryl Stearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Polysorbate 20, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Methylpropanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Astaxanthin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Oligopeptide-32, Oligopeptide-29, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ceramide EOP, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-6, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
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 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 AlcoholDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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