What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventLecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dextran
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Betaine, Isododecane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Copper Tripeptide-1, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Acetyl Glutamine, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Propylene Carbonate, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dextran, Tocopherol, Acetic Acid, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCholesterol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Copper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Myristyl Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract, Ceramide NP, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Cholesterol, Propanediol, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Colloidal Oatmeal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Thioctic Acid, Ubiquinone, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Allantoin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Myristyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
