What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid 14%
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate 1%
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Codonopsis Lanceolata Extract
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycolic Acid 14%, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Methyl Gluceth-20, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Phenoxyethanol, Ferulic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate 1%, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ubiquinone, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dodecane
Emollient
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dodecane, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80, Isohexadecane, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Lactic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract, Rose Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Lysate
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
