What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Mea
BufferingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Tyrosine
MaskingEchium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-20
CleansingHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Phosphatidylcholine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dimethyl Mea, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tyrosine, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Glycolic Acid, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Ceteareth-20, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysilicone-11
Cetearyl Olivate
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Polyisobutene
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethyl Mea
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSpermidine
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningSodium Glucuronate
HumectantMagnesium Sulfate
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Squalane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Cetearyl Olivate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethyl Mea, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Gluconate, Spermidine, Silica, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Glycerin, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Sodium Glucuronate, Magnesium Sulfate
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeWe don't have a description for Dimethyl Mea yet.
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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
