What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasivePropylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycol
HumectantArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBentonite
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantBambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract
AntioxidantBambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Powder
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveDisodium EDTA
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
AbrasiveHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Bentonite, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Powder, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Silica, Charcoal Powder, Disodium EDTA, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77499, CI 77491
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingWater
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating4-Terpineol
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Panthenol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, 4-Terpineol
Reviews
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum