What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientBetaine
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSqualane
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPsidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentAngelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Betaine, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyacrylate-13, Saccharide Isomerate, Phenoxyethanol, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Polyisobutene, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Angelica Gigas Extract, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Octyldodecanol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantBambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlobularia Alypum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantXylitol
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Octyldodecanol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Bambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside
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 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 Water