What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Perfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningDarutoside
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPolyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 188
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Sucrose Distearate, Sucrose Stearate, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Perfluorodecalin, Darutoside, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Poloxamer 188, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol Dicaprylate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Methylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningRhizobian Gum
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Methylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingHydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, PEG-75 Stearate, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Chlorphenesin
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 GlycolCaprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
