What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholecalciferol
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPhytonadione
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Calcium Pantothenate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Chloride
Potassium Chloride
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCalcium Chloride
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sorbitan Olivate, Hexylene Glycol, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholecalciferol, Jojoba Esters, Magnesium Stearate, Phytonadione, Zea Mays Oil, Calcium Pantothenate, Carbomer, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cucurbita Pepo
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Santalum Album Extract
CleansingCholecalciferol
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentDipteryx Odorata Seed Extract
MaskingPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Myristica Fragrans Extract
MaskingPimenta Officinalis Fruit Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Cucurbita Pepo, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Santalum Album Extract, Cholecalciferol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Polyacrylamide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Myristica Fragrans Extract, Pimenta Officinalis Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene 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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 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 WaterCholecalciferol is also known as vitamin D3. It has skin conditioning properties.
