What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentCollagen
Moisturising
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Escin
TonicGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetearyl Stearate, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Cyclodextrin, Collagen, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Beta-Glucan, Escin, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Polysorbate 20, Trehalose, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Horse Fat
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Polyacrylamide
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSorbitan Dioleate
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Cordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Syringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCollybia Mushroom Extract
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Edtmp
Hc Yellow No. 4
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Horse Fat, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Beeswax, Microcrystalline Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyacrylamide, Laureth-7, Sorbitan Dioleate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Syringa Vulgaris Extract, Collybia Mushroom Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cellulose Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Sodium Edtmp, Hc Yellow No. 4
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneGlycerin (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.
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 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
