What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucosamine Hcl
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Quercus Petraea Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen
Moisturising
Lecithin
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Formate
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Glucosamine Hcl, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycereth-26, Pisum Sativum Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Carbomer, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Quercus Petraea Fruit Extract, Collagen, Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Allantoin, Menthyl Lactate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carnosine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Panthenol, Adenosine, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dextran
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 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
