What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate
Sodium Gluceptate
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate, Sodium Gluceptate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Glucose
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Panthenol, Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract, Fructan, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Glucose
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
