What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventC9-12 Alkane
SolventOctyldodecanol
EmollientBis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientArginine
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientLecithin
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingLavandula Oil/Extract
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLeptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
TonicCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPiper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingTetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Arginine, Chlorphenesin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Lecithin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Citric Acid, Menthoxypropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Oil/Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Stearic Acid, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycosphingolipids
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingSerine
MaskingAlgin
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Lecithin
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingEthyl Linalool
MaskingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellyl Acetate
MaskingPentadecalactone
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIonone
AstringentTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Algin, Pentylene Glycol, Pullulan, Lecithin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Parfum, Ethyl Linalool, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Amyl Salicylate, Citronellyl Acetate, Pentadecalactone, Dipropylene Glycol, Ionone, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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