What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus
Masking
Sea Water
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Algin
Masking
Agar
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Chloride
Sucrose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Kjellmaniella Gyrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactose
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingJania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus, Sea Water, Betaine, Algin, Agar, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Chloride, Sucrose, Caprylyl Glycol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Kjellmaniella Gyrata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactose, Lactobacillus Ferment, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Madecassoside
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Glycerin
Humectant
Agave Americana Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingCollagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingWater, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Agave Americana Stem Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Collagen Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
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 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 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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
