What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPolypodium Polypodioides Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantUrea
BufferingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantAminopropyl Kojyl Phosphate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate
Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantAscorbylpropyl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantAscorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlabridin
Bleaching4-Butylresorcinol
AntioxidantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Propanediol, Phospholipids, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Niacinamide, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Polypodium Polypodioides Extract, Glycerin, Urea, Alpha-Arbutin, Aminopropyl Kojyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Ascorbylpropyl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glabridin, 4-Butylresorcinol, Sodium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingVaccinium Corymbosum Seed
AbrasiveVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract
MoisturisingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantC9-12 Alkane
SolventHydrogen Dimethicone
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Benzophenone-3, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lecithin, Sodium Levulinate, Xylitol, Glucose, Propylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Anhydroxylitol, Glyceryl Stearate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oxothiazolidine, Vaccinium Corymbosum Seed, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Zinc Oxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Ceramide AP, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, C9-12 Alkane, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid
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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 GlycolC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Phospholipids are a family of skin-identical lipids that makeup the structural backbone of every cell membrane in your body.
In cosmetics, they function as skin conditioning agents with emulsifier and surfactant properties. They're typically sourced from soybean or sunflower lecithin (or sometimes egg yolk or marine sources).
Because they mirror the lipids naturally found in the deeper layers of your skin, topical phospholipids help reinforce the lipid matrix, reduce transepidermal water loss, and leave skin feeling conditioned.
They're also used to form liposomes, or tiny self-assembling vesible used to stabilize actives like vitamin c or retinol. This helps these ingredients integrate into the upper layers of skin more easily.
Phospholipids are compatible with everything and the CIR Expert Panel has concluded them to be safe at current use levels.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe since phospholipids contain fatty acid chains in the C11-24 range that the malassezia yeast likes to feed on.
Some types of phospholipids include:
Learn more about PhospholipidsWater. 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