What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventIsoniacinamide
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tapioca Starch
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine, Methylpropanediol, Isoniacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Tapioca Starch, Malachite Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Lactate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Mannitol
Humectant
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rhizobian Gum
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Mannitol, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract, Sorbitan Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Chlorphenesin, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
