What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPhysalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Propanediol, Phospholipids, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Physalis Angulata Extract, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEscin
TonicMenthyl Lactate
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Escin, Menthyl Lactate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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.
Propanediol 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 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