What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-10 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingAspartic Acid
Masking
Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Citrate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Aspartic Acid, Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Coco-Glucoside, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA
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.
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 preservatives
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 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 AcidDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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
