What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Galactoarabinan
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pullulan
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Persica Juice
MoisturisingPyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Seed Extract
BufferingMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingSerine
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Chloride
MaskingFarnesol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Galactoarabinan, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Pullulan, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Prunus Persica Juice, Pyrus Malus Juice, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Pvp, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Urea, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Potassium Sorbate, Citronellol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Farnesol, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzoic Acid, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Polyamino Sugar Condensate
HumectantCollagen
Moisturising
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Euglena Gracilis Polysaccharide
Gel FormingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Opuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Perilla Ocymoides Callus Extract
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Ledebouriella Divaricata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Liliflora Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Arginine Ferulate
Skin Conditioning1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyamino Sugar Condensate, Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-5, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Euglena Gracilis Polysaccharide, Glyceryl Stearate, Proline, Betaine, Cetearyl Glucoside, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Opuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Dimethiconol, Hydrolyzed Perilla Ocymoides Callus Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ledebouriella Divaricata Root Extract, Magnolia Liliflora Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Arginine Ferulate, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
