What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Lauryl Methacrylate/Sodium Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Agar
MaskingSorbitan Distearate
EmollientIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Stearoyl Glutamic Acid
CleansingArginine
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Lauryl Methacrylate/Sodium Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dextrin Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Xylitol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Behenate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Agar, Sorbitan Distearate, Isoceteth-20, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Stearoyl Glutamic Acid, Arginine, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Royal Jelly Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Parfum
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 9.5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Betaine, Silica, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Bioflavonoids, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 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 PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
