What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, 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 ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Humectant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDiglycerin
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Lysine
Skin ConditioningPCA
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-10
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Inulin, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Linoleic Acid, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Linolenic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Diglycerin, Ceramide NP, Sodium PCA, Urea, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Lysine, PCA, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trideceth-10, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Allantoin, Oryza Sativa Lees 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.
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
