What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSorbitol
HumectantPassiflora Incarnata Seed Oil
Skin ProtectingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingMagnesium Sulfate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantLinoleic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactobionic Acid
BufferingGlutathione
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialLinolenic Acid
CleansingDextran
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAcacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Cera/Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Oleate
EmulsifyingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sorbitol, Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Magnesium Sulfate, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Superoxide Dismutase, Glycolic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Glutathione, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Dextran, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Cera Alba, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Cera/Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Butylene Glycol, Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Titanium Dioxide, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Propylene Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEriophorum Spissum Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPearl Extract
AntioxidantOpuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney
HumectantBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingSasa Kurilensis Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, Eriophorum Spissum Flower/Stem Extract, Pearl Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Propolis Extract, Honey, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Sasa Kurilensis Leaf/Stem Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Arginine, Adenosine, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Ceramide NP, Tranexamic Acid, Beeswax, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Alternatives
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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