What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantBentonite
AbsorbentSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glutamate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSericin
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Bentonite, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sericin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethoxydiglycol, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 77288
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientRose Flower Oil
MaskingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingPotassium Chloride
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Butylene Glycol, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Allantoin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rose Flower Oil, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Potassium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Caprylate
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Seed Extract comes from the seed of the wild soybean plant. Wild soybean extract contains fatty acids (linoleic, oleic, linolenic), vitamin E, and antioxidants.
The wild soybean contains soyasaponins, a bioactive compound. Soyasaponins have inflammatory, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial properties. Soyasaponin has also been found to inhibit the melanin-creation process.
Two powerful components found in the wild soybean include genistein and diadzein. These two isoflavones are potent antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. Genistein in particular has been found to prevent redness caused by UV exposure.
One study from South Korea found wild soybean extract to help promote hair growth at the cellular level.
The wild soybean plant is a cousin to the famous soybean that gives us tofu, soy milk, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja Seed ExtractPhenoxyethanol 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 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