What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Oryza Sativa Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adenosine, Pentylene Glycol, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Limonene, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentGlycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Serine
Masking
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Algin
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Betula Alba Juice, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Urea, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Serine, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenethyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carrageenan, Copper Gluconate, Glucose, Potassium Phosphate, Maris Sal, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Linalool, 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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
