What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventMica
Cosmetic ColorantBetaine
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Alginate
MaskingAgar
MaskingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Disodium EDTA
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningLaureth-9
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
PPG-30 Cetyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Mica, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Alginate, Agar, Allantoin, Niacinamide, Disodium EDTA, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Laureth-9, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, PPG-30 Cetyl Ether, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tripeptide-1, CI 77491, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAmp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
C9-11 Pareth-6
EmulsifyingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Isododecane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, C9-11 Pareth-6, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
