What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
AntioxidantPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSpirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingInositol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTranexamic Acid
AstringentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantErgothioneine
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Inositol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Alpha-Arbutin, Ergothioneine, Beta-Glucan, Hydroxyethylcellulose
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-73
Madecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Bisabolol, Salicylic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Quaternium-73, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilWater. 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