What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicDextrin
AbsorbentAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingPseudanabaena Galeata Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Dextrin, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Pseudanabaena Galeata Extract, CI 17200, Parfum, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Nylon-12
Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Carbonate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Trimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate
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
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 TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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
