What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate
AbsorbentSodium Benzoate
Masking
Apigenin
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Sodium Sulfate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Pvp, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Arginine, Caffeine, Pantolactone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Sodium Benzoate, Apigenin, Benzoic Acid, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Silica
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Octapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningKeratin
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantRhizobian Gum
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pantethine
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water
HumectantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Isopropyl Cloprostenate
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Oleate
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Octapeptide-2, Copper Tripeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Keratin, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Rhizobian Gum, Biotin, Panthenol, Pantethine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Sea Water, Alcohol, Isopropyl Cloprostenate, Polysorbate 60, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Oleate, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinButylene 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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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
