What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Water
HumectantGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingOryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Honey Extract
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventWater, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Glycolic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Honey Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Sodium PCA, Glucose, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Ethyl Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingSqualane
Emollient
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Isopentyldiol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Octyldodeceth-16, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Vitex Agnus Castus Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Squalane, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Polyquaternium-51, Ceramide NP, Gluconolactone, Madecassoside
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolC12-14 Pareth-12 is created from a mixture of synthetic C12-14 alcohols that have about 12 moles of ethylene oxide.
It is an emulsifying and cleansing ingredient. Emulsifier help prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis extract comes from Purslane, a succulent. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.
Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.
Fun fact: Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.
Nowadays, purslane is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.
Learn more about Portulaca Oleracea ExtractTocopherol 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
