What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventAgave Americana Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Agave Americana Stem Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Cellulose Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Laminaria Digitata Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingMannose
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Linalool, Mannose, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
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 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePhenoxyethanol 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