What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Propanediol
Solvent
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Xylitol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlgin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propanediol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Anhydroxylitol, Cetyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Urea, Xylitol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum, Glucose, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Sodium Hydroxide, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Phosphate
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethyl Acrylate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oleosomes
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed
Abrasive
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Serine
Masking
Cystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Methionine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Retinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Niacin
SmoothingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Palmitate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polymethyl Acrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sucrose Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorphenesin, Sorbitan Oleate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oleosomes, Sesamum Indicum Seed, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sorbitan Laurate, Levulinic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Tocopherol, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Alanine, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Polysorbate 80, Serine, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Proline, Methionine, Taurine, Hydroxyproline, Glucosamine Hcl, Retinyl Acetate, Inositol, Niacin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Biotin, Riboflavin
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
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin (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 GlycerinSerine is a non-essential amino acid (your body makes it on its own!). It is a major player in your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Serine is one of your NMF's most abundant components that works as a skin-identical humectant. Its hydroxyl group grabs onto water molecules to boost hydration without any heaviness or occlusion.
Research on a hydrogel with serine confirmed this serine got delivered to your stratum corneum and demonstrated enhanced skin moisturization.
Interestingly serine also helps your skin produce filaggrin, a protein that keeps your skin barrier strong and used to create collagen.
Learn more about SerineSodium 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 Hydroxide
