What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Retinol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentBHT
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBHA
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglutamic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Retinol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, BHT, Punica Granatum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, BHA, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingSalicylic Acid
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantAmylopectin
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDextrin
AbsorbentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Bisstearamide Mea
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingCholesteryl Isostearate
EmollientTricaprylin
PerfumingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Amylopectin, Xanthan Gum, Dextrin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hydroxypropyl Bisstearamide Mea, Polyglutamic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Triethanolamine, Dipropylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Cholesteryl Isostearate, Tricaprylin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyglutamic Acid is made up many glutamic acids chained together. It is created from bacterial fermentation.
This ingredient is an effective skin hydrator and may help speed up wound healing. As a humectant, it draws and holds water to the skin. This ingredient is often compared to hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Similarly to hyaluronic acid, it can vary in molecular weights. This means polyglutamic acid is capable of bringing hydration to lower levels of the skin.
Fun fact: Polyglutamic Acid is found in the Japanese food, natto. It is also being used in cancer treatment studies.
Learn more about Polyglutamic AcidPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract yet.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Water. 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