What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Palmitate
EmollientHypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHypericum Perforatum Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingCeteareth-20
CleansingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Phragmites Karka Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Hypericum Perforatum Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Poria Cocos Extract, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ceteareth-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Ceteareth-20, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentDecyl Glucoside
CleansingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningAcacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Myristyl Alcohol, Myristyl Glucoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Decyl Glucoside, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Acacia Seyal Gum Extract yet.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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