What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Plumeria Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Ipomoea Batatas Tuber Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Yeast Ferment Extract, Arginine Hcl, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Plumeria Alba Flower Extract, Sodium Polyglutamate, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Ipomoea Batatas Tuber Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sorbic Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Beta-Carotene, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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
