What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Nitrogen
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Surfactant
Algae Extract
EmollientPolyglycerin-10
HumectantSteareth-21
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientPEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Hydroxylated Lecithin
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Nitrogen, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Algae Extract, Polyglycerin-10, Steareth-21, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sucrose Stearate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Squalane, Hydroxylated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
