What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAminopropyl Dimethicone
Lactic Acid
BufferingStearyl Dihydroxypropyldimonium Oligosaccharides
Arginine
MaskingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeHoney
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventStearyl Pg-Dimethylamine
SurfactantIsoceteth-10
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ammonium Lactate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Carbonate
BufferingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Behentrimonium Chloride, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Lactic Acid, Stearyl Dihydroxypropyldimonium Oligosaccharides, Arginine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Steartrimonium Chloride, Honey, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Stearyl Pg-Dimethylamine, Isoceteth-10, Propylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Ammonium Lactate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Carbonate
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCapsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingPEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantHoney
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Honey Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientZein
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingSodium Isostearate
CleansingPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningCerebrosides
EmollientHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantAcacia Dealbata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Triethylhexanoin, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Myristate, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopherol, Honey, Water, Butylene Glycol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Honey Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Zein, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Honey Extract, Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Royal Jelly Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Sodium Isostearate, Propolis Extract, Cerebrosides, Hydrolyzed Silk, Acacia Dealbata Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHoney mostly shows up in skincare as a humectant and skin conditioning agent. This is because its natural sugars (fructose and glucose) help hold onto water so skin feels softer and more hydrated.
Beyond hydration, honey also has antibacterial and wound-supporting properties. Its antibacterial action comes from a mix of things:
Manuka-type honey has an extra bacteria-killing compound called methylglyoxal, while all Honey contains a natural antibacterial protein called bee defensin-1.
Honey also nudges your immune cells to release signals that start the healing process. This is why medical-grade Honey is actually used in real wound dressings.
Just keep in mind that most of the strong clinical evidence is for wound care and not everyday cosmetic claims.
On concentrations and safety:
According to industry data, honey is used up to 22% in paste/mud packs, 7% as a honey extract in body/hand products, and face skincare levels sit well below that.
A human repeat insult patch test of 7% honey extract in 112 subjects showed no sensitization.
Allergy-wise, honey itself is a rare sensitizer. The bigger culprit is usually propolis that sometimes tags along in less-refined honey.
People allergic to propolis, conifer, poplar, salicylates, or Balsam of Peru are advised to avoid this ingredient due to shared allergens.
You might see this ingredient listed as either Honey or Mel (they're the same thing). Mel is simply the Latin word for honey.
A lot of people wonder if Honey is vegan, and technically it isn't.
Honey is made by bees; they gather nectar and their natural enzymes turn it into the Honey we know. So because it comes from an animal, it doesn't fit a vegan lifestyle.
And please remember to be kind to bees :). They're vital to so many ecosystems, and many species are struggling so they're worth protecting.
Learn more about HoneyWater. 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