What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingNylon-12
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingAroma
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate
Geraniol
Perfuming
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Nylon-12, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Trimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Aroma, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Carbonate, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate, Geraniol, CI 16035
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Sodium PCA, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Linoleic Acid, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Trehalose, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492
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 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 CarbomerCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about CitralGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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
