What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
PreservativeFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAcacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingDenatonium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Citric Acid, Denatonium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGalactoarabinan
Magnesium Sulfate
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium PCA
HumectantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingHexyl Laurate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicMethylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Acinos Alpinus Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Extract
AstringentPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane, Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Galactoarabinan, Magnesium Sulfate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Medicago Sativa Extract, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Acinos Alpinus Extract, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Morus Alba Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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 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 GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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