What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Betaine, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Phytosphingosine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolTocopherol 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
