What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sea Water
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ecklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sea Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Allantoin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Adenosine, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Carbomer, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Isododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rosmarinic Acid
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolypropylsilsesquioxane
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Water, Propanediol, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Methyl Trimethicone, Glyceryl Glucoside, Trehalose, Betaine, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Ectoin, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Myristyl Alcohol, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lauryl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 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
