What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Polyquaternium-10
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Glycerin, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Coco-Betaine, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Chloride, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Panthenol, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyquaternium-10, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Decyl Glucoside, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Dipotassium Phosphate, Acetyl Glutamine, Cellulose Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C14-22 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Malt Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Glycosphingolipids, Xanthan Gum
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
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 GlycolDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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
