What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientPropanediol
SolventBrassica Glycerides
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Pullulan
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
PreservativeRetinal
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientBacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Citric Acid
BufferingWater, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Propanediol, Brassica Glycerides, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Pullulan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Retinal, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Xanthan Gum, Acetyl Glutamine, Glycine Soja Oil, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Betaine
CleansingPropanediol
SolventSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Acrylates Copolymer
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialSideritis Scardica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntioxidantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantBenzoic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Propanediol, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Bioflavonoids, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Panthenol, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Sideritis Scardica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 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 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 AcidGlycerin (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 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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