What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pullulan
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Laureth-7, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Sorbate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Benzoate, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Isostearyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Carbomer, Glycerin, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, C12-14 Pareth-12, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Algae Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Tocopherol
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
