What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Water
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Extract
Perfuming
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rose Flower Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycine Max Oil
Emollient
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningWater, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Lactate, Gluconolactone, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Caffeine, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Glycine Max Oil, Beta-Carotene
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Thuja Orientalis Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Chlorphenesin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Panthenol, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Gluconolactone, Arginine, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Thuja Orientalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Resveratrol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glutathione, Limonene, Linalool
Alternatives
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 PanthenolPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser.
On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LauratePolyglyceryl-10 Myristate is a nonionic emulsifier and skin conditioner made from Polyglycerin-10 and Myristic Acid.
As a skin conditioning agent, this ingredient leaves skin feeling soft without a greasy finish. As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions.
You'll likely see this ingredient in "clean" formulations because it's considered a natural alternative to PEGs.
Patch testing at concentration 0.1-1% showed no reactions and this ingredient is considered to be well-tolerated across skin types.
Due to its myristic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 MyristateWater. 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
