Boots Ingredients Ectoin + Heartleaf Soothing Toner Versus Boots Ingredients Retinol Night Moisturiser
This calming toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Houttuynia Cordata Extract to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging night moisturizer is formulated around Retinyl Palmitate and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ectoin, Allantoin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methylparaben
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, BHT, Tocopherol, BHA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
