What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningRhizobian Gum
Chondrus Crispus
Masking
Acetyl Hexapeptide-49
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantXanthan Gum
Emulsifying3-Hexenol
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Gluconate, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Rhizobian Gum, Chondrus Crispus, Acetyl Hexapeptide-49, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pectin, Arginine, Proline, Serine, Glucose, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Xanthan Gum, 3-Hexenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG-50/40 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Betaine
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Dimorpholinopyridazinone
UV AbsorberSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingCitronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-50/40 Dimethyl Ether, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Betaine, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Dimorpholinopyridazinone, Sodium Metaphosphate, Citronellol, Linalool, Limonene, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Tocopherol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Benzoic Acid
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 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 AcidLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimonenePhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
