What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Squalene
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningAmylopectin
Lecithin
EmollientPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOligopeptide-3
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientMyrica Cerifera Fruit Extract
HumectantAkebia Quinata Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Lannesiana Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDextran
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Squalene, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Amylopectin, Lecithin, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Collagen Amino Acids, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oligopeptide-3, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11, Folic Acid, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactic Acid, Phospholipids, Ceramide NP, Phytosterols, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Myrica Cerifera Fruit Extract, Akebia Quinata Stem Extract, Prunus Lannesiana Flower Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Tripeptide-1, Ceramide EOP, Polyglutamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acetyl Glutamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dextran, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Benzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Methyl Trimethicone, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Phosphate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Arginine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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