What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPolyester-5
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polyether-1
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Xyloglucan
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, 2,3-Butanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Polyester-5, Xanthan Gum, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Polyether-1, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ceramide NP, Xyloglucan
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
Carbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
