What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCarrageenan
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Chloride
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sucrose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGellan Gum
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Calcium Lactate
AstringentPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Carrageenan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sucrose, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Gellan Gum, Allantoin, Caffeine, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Polyacrylate, Calcium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tin Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAgar
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acrylates Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Aluminum Glycinate
AstringentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sea Water
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Agar, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Tartaric Acid, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Menthoxypropanediol, Menthyl Lactate, Adenosine, Betaine, Aluminum Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Caffeine, Pentylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sea Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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
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 GlycolCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineCaprylyl 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 GlycolCellulose Gum is a water-soluble polymer that comes from cellulose. It is used to change the texture of a product and to help stabilize emulsions.
As an emulsifier, cellulose gum specifically thicken the texture of water-based products.
This ingredient is considered hypoallergenic and non-toxic. Cellulose Gum can be found in cosmetics, food, and other household goods such as paper products.
Learn more about Cellulose GumGlycerin (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 HyaluronateSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
