What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
AbrasiveSucrose
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Taurine
BufferingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Sucrose, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Sorbitol, Sodium Polyaspartate, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Trehalose, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Whey Protein, Pentylene Glycol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Micrococcus Lysate, Pullulan, Taurine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, CI 42090, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSarcosine
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Menthoxypropanediol, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sarcosine, Salicylic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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 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