What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
PEG-8
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Silanetriol
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Potassium Citrate
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Soy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, PEG-8, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Caffeine, CI 77891, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycolic Acid, Parfum, Silanetriol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Citrate, Lecithin, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Soy Isoflavones, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCera Alba
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Methylpropanediol
SolventHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arctium Lappa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Creatine
Skin Conditioning1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingTrisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cera Alba, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arctium Lappa Fruit Extract, Creatine, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Tocopherol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Lauroyl Lysine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Trisodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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 Water
