What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingBetaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Myristate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Isopentyldiol, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Sodium Surfactin, Betaine, Trehalose, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Adenosine, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Carbomer, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientPPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Carbomer, Pullulan, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Thioctic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Zea Mays Oil, Beta-Carotene, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer 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 CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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.
Propanediol 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 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
