What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningArbutin
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Fructan
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glutathione
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSqualane
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Angelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Arbutin, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tranexamic Acid, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearyl Alcohol, Arginine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Phytate, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Fructan, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alcohol, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glutathione, Mentha Viridis Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Squalane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Angelica Gigas Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentMethylpropanediol
SolventIsobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol
Bleaching
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucosylrutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isoquercitrin
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Distarch Phosphate, Methylpropanediol, Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Tocopherol, Glucosylrutin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Isoquercitrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Trisodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 StearateIsopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight emollient made by combining isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
It is an emollient that leaves skin feeling smooth and silky without leaving a greasy feel.
Typical usage concentrations range from 1-5%.
Human testing shows it's non-irritating and non-sensitizing, and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has cleared it at very high levels (79% in leave-on products).
The one thing worth knowing about its comedogenic score of 3-4 is to keep it in perspective: these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests using 100% of pure ingredient and doesn't reflect how it behaves at low levels in a finished product.
Because it is an ester of palmitic acid (C16), it falls into the range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on and is considered not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitateSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
