What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Dna
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Dna, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantUndecane
EmollientArginine
MaskingInulin
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCeteareth-20
CleansingTridecane
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Linoleate
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPentapeptide-18
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningSucrose Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCopper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin ConditioningHeptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin ConditioningBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPantolactone
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
T-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Phenylpropanol
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Butylene Glycol, Undecane, Arginine, Inulin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ceteareth-20, Tridecane, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Pullulan, Tetrapeptide-21, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Oligopeptide-1, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Sucrose Palmitate, Cetyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Carnosine, Sodium Metabisulfite, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pantolactone, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, T-Butyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenylpropanol
Reviews
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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 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