What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
PEG-75
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingRibes Nigrum Bud Extract
Perfuming
Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract
MaskingBenzaldehyde
Masking
Hexenyl Acetate
Masking
Gamma-Decalactone
Perfuming
Ionone
Astringent
Ethyl Acetate
Perfuming
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Pantethine
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-75, Dimethicone, Persea Gratissima Oil, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, PEG-8, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract, Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract, Benzaldehyde, Hexenyl Acetate, Gamma-Decalactone, Ionone, Ethyl Acetate, Alcohol, Linalool, Limonene, Isopropyl Isostearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sucrose, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Oryza Sativa Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Pantethine, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Punica Granatum Sterols, Sorbitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryzanol, Trehalose, Bisabolol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Oil
Antimicrobial
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beeswax, Arginine, Carbomer, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Centella Asiatica Oil, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Oil, Water, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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
