What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Disodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal
Perfuming
Cyclamen Aldehyde
Masking
Citronellyl Acetate
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingEthyl Linalool
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIsobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGamma-Undecalactone
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingSilica
Abrasive
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingMethyl Aminomethylcyclohexane Carboxamide Hcl
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal, Cyclamen Aldehyde, Citronellyl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethyl Linalool, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Gamma-Undecalactone, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, CI 14700, CI 47005, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Silica, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Methyl Aminomethylcyclohexane Carboxamide Hcl, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTriethanolamine (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
