What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLecithin
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Lecithin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Phenyl Trimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Glucose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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, 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 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