What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantKojic Acid
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Astragalus Gummifer Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingProline
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Ethoxydiglycol, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycerin, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Astragalus Gummifer Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Proline, Hydroxyproline, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Polyacrylamide
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
Cleansing
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingBHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Isohexadecane, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose, Polyacrylamide, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Chlorphenesin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laureth-7, Ascorbic Acid, Sarcosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chrysin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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
