What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingMaris Aqua
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEmiliania Huxleyi Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Maris Aqua, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Panthenol, Propanediol, Madecassoside, Acetyl Glutamine, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Emiliania Huxleyi Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Maris Aqua
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Emiliania Huxleyi Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Gluconolactone, Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract, Triethanolamine, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Sodium Citrate, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Madecassoside, Maris Aqua, Citric Acid, Propanediol, Emiliania Huxleyi Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer made from ammonium salts. It works as a thickener, emulsifier, and texture enhancer that gives gel-creams a silky, lightweight feel.
This ingredient is versatile and low-maintenance so manufacturers love working with it.
Typical usage levels in cosmetics are usually low and in the range of 0.015 - 2.3%.
Learn more about Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateButylene 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAWe don't have a description for Emiliania Huxleyi Extract yet.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosideMaris Aqua is the INCI name for plain old sea water that is filtered and then dropped into a formula.
The name technically covers two slightly different things:
1) Actual sea water pulled from a particular depth and filtered down
2) "Marine spring water" which are fresh-water springs that resurface in the sea
Either way, you're getting water + a cocktail of minerals and trace elements (like magnesium, calcium, potassium sodium, etc).
Officially, COSIng recognizes this ingredient as a humectant that holds and retains moisture, and solvent that helps dissolve other ingredients.
The claims about this ingredient come from its minerals. A 2025 systematic review found that seawater-based therapy showed moderate effectiveness at reducing atopic dermatitis severity and improving skin barrier function.
It also showed favorable safety profile and very minimal adverse effects.
The underlying studies pointed to improvements in stratum corneum hydration, lower transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and a healthier microbial balance.
Much of this benefit is actually attributed to magnesium: a 2005 study found that bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead sea salt solution improved skin barrier function, boosted hydration, and reduced inflammation in atopic dry skin.
It's worth nothing most of this evidence comes from bathing/soaking protocols and mineral-rich waters like the Dead Sea (not necessarily a few drops on an ingredient list).
Overall, this is a gentle, well-tolerated, water-phase ingredient that can offer light hydration and a little mineral boost.
The only caveat is that very high salt concentrations can be drying for already-dry skin.
Learn more about Maris AquaPentylene 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 GlycolPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate comes from Capric Acid and Polyglycerin-4. It is an emulsifier.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. They do this by preventing ingredients from separating, such as oils and water which do not mix naturally.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
