What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAcetic Acid
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Acetic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Octyldodecanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingArtemisia Montana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVaccinium Corymbosum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Methylpropanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Trehalose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Artemisia Montana Leaf Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vaccinium Corymbosum Fruit Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Linalool
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.
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 preservatives
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 TriglycerideCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLonicera Japonica Flower Extract comes from the honeysuckle flower.
Honeysuckles have skin protecting, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains many antioxidants, such as luteolin, caffeic acid, loniflavone, and chlorogenic acids.
This honeysuckle is native to East Asia and used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fever and inflammation.
Learn more about Lonicera Japonica Flower ExtractOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Sodium 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