What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Stearate/Caprate/Caprylate/Adipate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Melilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentTrehalose
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCholesterol
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Trideceth-10
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentaerythrityl Stearate/Caprate/Caprylate/Adipate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Trehalose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Cholesterol, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-10, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Cirsium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Erica Cinerea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Persica Leaf Extract
Emollient
Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-4-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Urea, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Cirsium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Erica Cinerea Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Water, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, PPG-4-Ceteth-20, Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract comes from the marigold flower and has been used on skin for centuries for its calming effect.
In the lab, its active compounds appear to calm inflammation and support the early "healing" phase of minor wounds.
This is why Europe's medicines regulator has approved calendula extracts as a traditional remedy for minor skin inflammation and healing small wounds.
The stronger human evidence is around would/ulcer care rather than everyday cosmetic claims; a review that pulled together 14 studies found that calendula helped calm the early, inflamed stage of a wound and helped new skin tissue form faster.
Two studies also showed it shrank leg ulcers (the kind caused by poor circulation). Results were mixed for burns and for the skin irritation people get from radiation treatment, so it's not a sure thing there.
In cosmetics, it's mostly a skin conditioning and soothing agent.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel concluded that calendula-derived ingredients are safe as used and that the ingredients are not irritating, sensitizing, or photosensitizing in clinical tests (though they may be mild eye irritants).
Typical use levels are quite low; industry data reported it used at under 0.5% (one supplier noted a 10-25% extract blend used at 1-10% in the finished product). Historical use goes up to 10%.
The only thing to keep in mind is if you have daisy/ragweed allergies. Calendula is in the same family and one patch-test study found 2% of dermatitis patients reacted to marigold. Be sure to patch test if you have sensitive or allergy-prone skin.
Learn more about Calendula Officinalis Flower ExtractDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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
