What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
Antioxidant
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Poloxamer 184
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rheum Palmatum Root Extract
Astringent
Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract
Antioxidant
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Poloxamer 184, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water 20%
AntimicrobialPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sea Water
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingOriganum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water 20%, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, C12-14 Pareth-12, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Allantoin, Decyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tromethamine, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Sea Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Panthenol, Asiaticoside, Glucose, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Ceramide NP, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Madecassoside, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
