What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentSqualane
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
C12-18 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Snail Secretion Filtrate, Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Jojoba Esters, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Betula Alba Juice, Squalane, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Tromethamine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, C12-18 Acid Triglyceride, Phytosterols, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
Humectant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPEG-100 Stearate
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Disteareth-100 Ipdi
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Blue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Gluconolactone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, C13-15 Alkane, PEG-100 Stearate, Lactobionic Acid, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethoxydiglycol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phospholipids, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Phosphatidylcholine, Octyldodecanol, Myristic Acid, Ceteareth-20, Steareth-2, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Disteareth-100 Ipdi, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Blue 1 Lake, CI 19140
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.
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractSodium 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
