What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Silanetriol
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Yeast Extract, Adenosine, Cholesterol, Panthenol, Silanetriol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningPolymethyl Methacrylate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rice Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Squalane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyethylene, Synthetic Wax, Water, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Jojoba Esters, Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus Ferment, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Lactic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Proline, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rice Amino Acids, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Inulin, Caffeine, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Maltodextrin, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Lactate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Phytate, Sodium PCA, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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
