What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Harpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Caprylyl Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Harpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Bacillus Ferment, Sodium Carrageenan, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Maris Sal
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyurethane Crosspolymer-1
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantIsoceteth-10
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPEG-8
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenylpropanol
Masking
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Polysorbate 60, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Silica, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Polyurethane Crosspolymer-1, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Isoceteth-10, Sodium Hydroxide, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenethyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenylpropanol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, CI 19140, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Callus Culture Extract
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylatePhenethyl Alcohol is a colorless and aromatic alohol. It is naturally occuring in essential oils.
The scent of this ingredient is floral and often compared to rose.
Like other alcohols, this ingredient helps prevent the growth of bacteria. However, its main purpose is to impact a fragrance.
Learn more about Phenethyl AlcoholPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
