What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cellulose
Absorbent
Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
Cleansing
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Polysorbate 20, Cellulose, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Carbomer, Jojoba Esters, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenylpropanol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Glycerin, CI 77007
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Hydrated Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dipropylene Glycol
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
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 GlycerinWater. 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
