What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Tromethamine
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-100 Stearate
Isohexadecane
EmollientPEG-2m
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Pantolactone
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Betula Alba Juice, Water, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Glycolic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Beeswax, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sorbitan Stearate, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Isohexadecane, PEG-2m, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Sucrose Distearate, Polysorbate 80, Adenosine, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Pantolactone, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Alumina
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Hydroxide
BufferingArginine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
PEG-75 Stearate
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingMenthol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycolic Acid, Alumina, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Lactobionic Acid, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, PEG-75 Stearate, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural âglueâ that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (thatâs where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But donât skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless youâre highly sensitive, itâs well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
