What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Diethylhexyl Adipate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Taraxacum Officinale Root
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic
Skin ProtectingChlorella Sorokiniana Extract
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Polyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsomalt
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Lecithin
Emollient
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
D-Arginyl Tyrosinyl Ornithinyl Phenylalanine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Diethylhexyl Adipate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Jojoba Esters, Coconut Alkanes, Taraxacum Officinale Root, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic, Chlorella Sorokiniana Extract, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Pentapeptide-4, Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosterols, Ubiquinone, Polyglucuronic Acid, Phospholipids, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Acetyl Glutamine, Benzyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Isomalt, CI 77891, Silica, Mica, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Maltodextrin, Lecithin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tin Oxide, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, D-Arginyl Tyrosinyl Ornithinyl Phenylalanine, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ProtectingLeontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLactose
HumectantGalactoarabinan
Lecithin
Emollient
Schizophyllan
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose
Absorbent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Micrococcus Lysate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Lactose, Galactoarabinan, Lecithin, Schizophyllan, Beta-Glucan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Cellulose, Maltodextrin, C14-22 Alcohols, Cetearyl Glucoside, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, CI 77007, Limonene
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.
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 preservatives
Caprylyl 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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
