What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol Dicaprylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Pentylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pantethine
EmollientSorbitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent
Nylon-12
Silica
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Isostearate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium Polyaspartate, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Yeast Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pantethine, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Nylon-12, Silica, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl 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
