What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentCholesterol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Adenosine, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Cholesterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Retinal, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Dimethicone
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Nylon-12
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLaureth-23
CleansingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantRetinol
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Methylparaben
PreservativeSodium Propylparaben
PreservativeSodium Ethylparaben
PreservativeCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPolyacrylamide
BHA
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Nylon-12, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Laureth-23, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Parfum, Laureth-4, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, BHT, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polysorbate 20, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Bisabolol, Retinol, Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Laureth-7, Sodium Methylparaben, Sodium Propylparaben, Sodium Ethylparaben, Copper Gluconate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Polyacrylamide, BHA, CI 19140
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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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