What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pantethine
EmollientSorbitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent
Nylon-12
Silica
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Isostearate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium Polyaspartate, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Faex Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pantethine, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Nylon-12, Silica, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium PCA
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingMagnesium PCA
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Pvp, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Potassium PCA, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine, Magnesium PCA, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate
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 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, 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 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 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
