What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAmp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHectorite
AbsorbentRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantParfum
MaskingPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSqualane
EmollientSodium Salicylate
PreservativeCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingWater, Propanediol, Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hectorite, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trehalose, Parfum, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Sodium Salicylate, Centella Asiatica Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingDiglycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Diglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glucose, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorphenesin, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP
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 GlycolHydroxyacetophenone 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 Water