What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingSebacic Acid
Buffering10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin Conditioning1,10-Decanediol
SolventCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantWater
Skin ConditioningTripelargonin
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingInulin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
CleansingLinoleic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSqualene
EmollientCarrageenan
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Tripelargonin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Glucoside, Inulin, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Trehalose, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ectoin, Resveratrol, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalene, Carrageenan, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide is a prebiotic. It prevents harmful bacteria from growing on skin by keeping the skin's microbiome in balance.
Another benefit of this ingredient is its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect our skin from oxidative damage.
Hydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneInulin is a polysaccharide (carbohydrate) with prebiotic and antioxidant properties.
The majority of inulin is extracted from chicory, but can also be obtained from other plants such as garlic, onion, asparagus, and sugarcane.
Studies show inulin may help with controlling your skin's natural microbiota when applied topically.
The antioxidant potential of inulin varies depending on the source.
Learn more about InulinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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