What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Arginine, Carbomer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
