What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract 10%
CleansingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPanthenol 1%
Skin ConditioningBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAscorbic Acid Polypeptide
AntioxidantAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingLecithin
EmollientEscin
TonicDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarnosine
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract 10%, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Panthenol 1%, Beta-Sitosterol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Copper Tripeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Pyrus Malus Juice, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Escin, Dipropylene Glycol, Carnosine
Water
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Panthenol, Ectoin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Disodium EDTA, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinWater. 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