What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
PPG-24-Glycereth-24
EmulsifyingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Armillaria Matsutake Extract
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentLimonia Acidissima Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterPhenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Propanediol, Ectoin, Armillaria Matsutake Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Limonia Acidissima Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Lactic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrated Silica, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ergothioneine, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stabilising
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Punica Granatum Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Inulin, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Squalane, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 PhenoxyethanolSodium 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
