What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone
BufferingPolyacrylate-13
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPolyisobutene
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningHoney
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingPanax Ginseng Flower Extract
AntioxidantHydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingWater, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Polyacrylate-13, Phenoxyethanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Polyisobutene, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Caffeine, Honey, Alcohol, Parfum, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Linalool, Panax Ginseng Flower Extract, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hexyl Cinnamal, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Polyaspartate, Tocopherol, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPolyglycerin-3
HumectantSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Oleate Citrate
EmulsifyingRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientVoandzeia Subterranea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Crenulata Root Extract
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPoloxamer 407
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
PEG-6
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Voandzeia Subterranea Seed Extract, Rhodiola Crenulata Root Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Poloxamer 407, Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-6, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Biosaccharide Gum-2, C12-14 Pareth-12, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel, Citronellol, Geraniol
Reviews
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 GlycolDimethicone 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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 PropanediolSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, itâs technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term âoil-freeâ isnât regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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