What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Asparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract
Antimicrobial
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Agar
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRheum Palmatum Root Extract
Astringent
Bletilla Striata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlgin
Masking
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingGellan Gum
Alanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Polyglutamic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycosyl Trehalose, Parfum, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract, Beta-Glucan, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Allantoin, Agar, CI 77891, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77491, Mica, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Bletilla Striata Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Algin, Pectin, Gellan Gum, Alanine, Lysine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Ceramide NP, Citric Acid, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Silicate
AbsorbentLactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles
Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Silicate
BufferingBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Sponge, C12-14 Alketh-12, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Calcium Silicate, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Sodium Silicate, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone
Reviews
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 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 AcidDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed sponge comes from marine or freshwater sponges. This is the main ingredient for "spicules".
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. They help push active ingredients into the skin to enhance the penetration and efficacy of these ingredients.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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
