What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Potassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingOryzanol
Skin Conditioning2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Myristyl Myristate, Petrolatum, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 60, PEG-40 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Parfum, Sorbitan Tristearate, Trisodium EDTA, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Citrate, Oryzanol, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Mica, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Metaphosphate, Limonene, Citric Acid, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Aluminum Hydroxide, Benzyl Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, CI 77491, Linalool, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citronellol, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Bakuchiol, Retinol, Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract, Ferulic Acid, Ubiquinone, Quercetin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Isomerate, Phospholipids, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caffeine, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Glycolic Acid, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Tetrapeptide-21, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Mandelic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Alternatives
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 AcidGlycerin (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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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
