What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Calcium Dna
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus
Masking
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Magnesium Dna
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Galactoarabinan
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Methylpropanediol
SolventPEG-8
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingStearyl Caprylate
EmollientStearyl Heptanoate
Emollient
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Propylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Silica, Acetyl Glutamine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Calcium Dna, Chondrus Crispus, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Folic Acid, Glucose, Hexapeptide-11, Lecithin, Magnesium Dna, Maltodextrin, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-3, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Dna, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Algin, Boron Nitride, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Galactoarabinan, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Methylpropanediol, PEG-8, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Propanediol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phosphate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Heptanoate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Mica, CI 77891, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Glyceryl Dilaurate
Emollient
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Tripeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Urea
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Guanidine Hcl
BufferingDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Tripeptide-10, Citrulline, Tripeptide-1, Lecithin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Urea, Glucose, Guanidine Hcl, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Panthenol, Phospholipids, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Pvp, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid
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
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinSodium 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
