What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,5-Pentanediol
SolventPEG-80 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Myreth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Succinic Acid
BufferingHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,5-Pentanediol, PEG-80 Glyceryl Cocoate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Piroctone Olamine, Succinic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Carbomer, Parfum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
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
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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinNordihydroguaiaretic Acid is an antioxidant.
Oleanolic acid is a type of triterpene.
Triterpenes are chemical compounds found in various plants such as pomegranates, apples, basil, and rosemary. They have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
This ingredient is derived from almond oil. It is an emulsifier with emollient properties.
Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating. The fatty acid content of this ingredient gives it emollient properties. Emollients hydrate the skin by preventing water from evaporating.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
The 60 stands for 60 moles of ethylene oxide.
Learn more about PEG-60 Almond GlyceridesPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
