What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Trimetaphosphate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Silica
Abrasive
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Panthenol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cellulose Gum, Tromethamine, Sodium Trimetaphosphate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Propanediol, Adenosine, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Sodium Metaphosphate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Cholesterol, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Mannitol, Stearic Acid, Silica, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Sphingolipids
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBatyl Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Maltitol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lauroyl Lysine, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Batyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Maltitol, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Limonene, Citral
Reviews
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric 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 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 GlycolPropanediol 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
