What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Arachis Hypogaea Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Beta-Glucan, Retinyl Palmitate, Arachis Hypogaea Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningShea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Brassica Glycerides
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Pullulan
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Preservative
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Brassica Glycerides, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Pullulan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Retinal, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopherol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Xanthan Gum, Acetyl Glutamine, Glycine Soja Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
