What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Ceteareth-25
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningWater, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Maltodextrin, Ceteareth-25, Ceramide NP, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus, Cholesterol, Behenic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide As, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Succinic Acid
BufferingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlgin
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc Oxide, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Sodium Polyglutamate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Succinic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Maltodextrin, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phospholipids, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Algin, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide is a prebiotic. It prevents harmful bacteria from growing on skin by keeping the skin's microbiome in balance.
Another benefit of this ingredient is its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect our skin from oxidative damage.
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 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 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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPhenoxyethanol 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
