What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingArbutin
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Isopentyldiol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mentha Viridis Extract, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Betaine Salicylate, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Tromethamine, Betaine, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Allantoin, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aspartic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDipropylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 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 Water
