What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Alumina
Abrasive
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Limonene
Perfuming
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningCitral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Geraniol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Myristyl Nicotinate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, CI 77891, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Carnosine, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzophenone-4, Sodium Lactate, Glycine Soja Oil, Alumina, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Sodium PCA, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Limonene, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Pantolactone, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Silica, Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract, Linalool, Plankton Extract, Citral, Citronellol, Tocopherol, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-20
CleansingMethyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Biotin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Magnesium Aspartate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Zinc Gluconate, Chrysin, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Copper Gluconate, Steareth-20, Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 Water
